There are four or five books of Scripture that did not seem to me, early in the years of my readings, to be adequately meaningful to the larger story of the Church, the history of the plan of salvation and the motivating relationship of God and man. One of these was Third John, a short personal epistle written by the Apostle John to his friend, Gaius. The few verses introduce three names of men about whom John made cryptic remarks: Gaius, the faithful friend whom John commended for his hospitality to traveling Christians, believed to be itinerant missionaries and evangelists; Diotrephes, who is identified as a controller, for prideful motives, in a local congregation, and was not sympathetic to visiting missionaries; and, Demetrius, who is identified as a friend of John’s. The apostle’s compliment recommended him. Diotrephes was the negative person whom John would challenge. Arrogant, Diotrephes disregarded John and others in authority, even gossiping maliciously about them. The letter reveals that carnality can arise among Christians.
The traveling evangelists, to whom John refers, chose not to take support from non-Christians. They were dependent upon the hospitality of local Christians. The Living Bible paraphrases the passage: For they are traveling for the Lord and take neither food, clothing, shelter nor money from those who are not Christians. (v. 7) Gaius apparently provided such hospice, adding a money gift on their way, but Diotrephes resisted such charity. John would make this a matter of confrontation and discussion with Diotrephes if he, John, became personally involved in the future. John implies he would seek the facts alleged, and deal with the issues.
John’s letter, which we may presume to be an apostolic opinion (authoritative) about Church practice and conduct in the early history of the church, informs us, both in the actual words of the letter and in its implications, how individual Christians comprising the church ought to behave in their attitudes and in the communication of the gospel. John was qualified as an ordained and trustworthy professional as an Apostle. There was, and remains for us, important apostolic authority. This authority was delivered to the apostles by Jesus and is important to historical and current ministry of the church. The letter is comforting for those facing tensions in church business, attitudes, differences, and the insidious ways of mankind caused by a carnal, proud spirit.
One of the ideals of the church is to discover, and replicate, the best conduct of the church from the first century after Jesus’ resurrection. This is discovered by careful study of Scripture, embellished by known history of the church, and sincere effort to capture and retain the force, practice and effectiveness of the apostolic Church, the biblical Bride of Christ. Much of the controversy in the church grows out of the loss of this pattern. It is well to remember that there were obstreperous persons in the early church who diluted the directives of Jesus and his ordained Apostles. One of those directives was to be hospitable to Christians and to others. We may avoid, even may challenge, any misguided lone rangers, and relate to those who carry through the mission of Christ to the World. This is partly achieved in the gifts of empathy and hospitality given of God to us. (Romans 12:23) It is presumed that Christians will relate well to others, demonstrating the intended friendship of Christ to all. The gift of hospitality is to create a sense of care, home and safety, in love. The advancement of the Gospel of Christ is the point. It may be done this way, or that way, by voice or print, by education or conversation, by whatever legitimate means that may be found. To miss the gospel is to miss Christ. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020