The gospel of john begins with a lovely little poem about jesus. An introduction to the book of 3 john related media a. He wrote from ephesus in presentday western turkey, perhaps to churches like those mentioned in rev. Overview of the book of 1 john reformed answers to bible. It is written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. This is one read scripture video dedicated to the letters of john, which aims to help you see its unique contribution to the story of jesus, but also how they work within the bibles overall. About one in every 50 words is a form of lovethat makes for about 52 mentions of love in just five short chapters. John wrote his letter to gaius, a leader of one or more churches in asia minor. Here we have three different letters, written at different times, to different people. Book of john overview insight for living ministries. The word gospel means good news, and the good news is about jesus christ dying on the cross and then 3 days later conquering death and rising from the dead, offering salvation to all mankind, this is the gospel.
John 3 indepth versebyverse bible study and commentary of john chapter 3 in plain english. Written by john the elder to house church believers, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john echo the gospel of john. The book of 3 john, like 2 john, is an exhortation and encouragement for love and truth. The man who received the letter, gaius, faces a troublemaker named diotrephes. There was some confusion about receiving certain evangelists.
This evidence is not as strong as that for 2 john,1 yet its brevity of the letter and the unlikelihood of it being quoted may account for some of this as with 2 john2 1. The key personalities of this book are jesus christ, his twelve disciples, mary magdalene, john the baptist, lazarus, his sisters mary and martha. Hospitality, support and encouragement for our fellow. The book of 3 john is a private letter, between john the elder and a christian.
Overview of the new testament student edition a basic survey of the background and teaching of the entire new testament cork bible institute course. The letter is brief because john hopes soon to see him facetoface. This summary of the book of 3 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 3 john. The book of john is a gospel that contains narrative history, sermons, parables, and a few prophetic oracles. John closes the letter expressing a desire to come to them and talk face to face. The epistle of 3 john is a letter where john commends a christian man named gaius who showed warm hearted hospitality to certain missionary helpers of johns. John calls followers of jesus to share in gods own life and love by. There have been occasional doubts raised by those who thought it possible that this was written by another disciple of the lord named john, but all the evidence points to the author being. Almost half of the book is about the last week of jesus life. John then warns against the destructive behavior shown by diotrephes, who was spreading lies about the apostle, refusing to welcome these men and strongarming anyone who did. Each book also addresses deceivers, teachers who no longer acknowledge that jesus is the messiah or son of god. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of third john in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork.
Such identifications were not made in any of the other three biblical gospels either. The term elder would be a fitting description of john as the author, writing in. It is the third in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name. While we cannot pinpoint the date with certainty due to the lack of specific information in the letter, 3 john was probably written around ad 90 from the island of patmos, where john was exiled at the time. Jesus was jehovah god, the eternal word made flesh. May you be blessed and inspired as you read and study the book of 3 john. Study basics about bible books, people, dates, places, and content, and take webbased selftests.
Third john is the fifth of the general epistles or catholic letters, the writings of apostles to the church at large. John s purpose in writing this third epistle is threefold. This book is the shortest book in the new testament and was written to praise gaius and demetrius for. Book of 3 john read, study bible verses bible study tools. It is a letter commending demetrius to the recipient, gaius. Overview of the book of 3 john reformed answers to bible. A brief synopsis the famous bible stories found in the scriptural text of the book of 1 john contained in this short summary of 1 john. Watch our overview video on the letters of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of 3 john would most likely have been written at about the same time as john s other letters, 1 and 2 john, between a. This evidence is not as strong as that for 2 john, 1 yet its brevity of the letter and the unlikelihood of it being quoted may account for some of this as with 2 john 2. John the son of zebedee probably wrote his three nt letters no later than the 90s a. The book of 3 john does not directly name its author. The theme of 3 john is faithfulness despite opposition.
In the first letter, the elder encourages the christians in his community to stay together. This description likely pointed to john for three reasons. In addition to this one, john wrote two other new testament letters, a gospel, and possibly the prophetic book of. This also is a private letter written, some time after first john, to his personal friend, gaius. I selected this book because i was already hooked on the series after reading the first two books, and i was excited to see how the series would end. The key personalities in this book are the apostle john, gaius, diotrephes, and demetrius. These same missionaries had been treated badly by an officer of the local church named diotrephes. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that the apostle john is the author. They emphasize that god is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate gods light and love. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if god were not with him. To encourage service toward others, especially with regard to hospitality toward those who minister the gospel. The gospel of john is the latestwritten of the four biographies of jesus that have been preserved in the new testament. Johns three epistles are largely concerned with the issue of fellowshipwith god, with enemies of the gospel and, in the case of 3 john, with those who proclaim. The third letter by john, was closely akin to a personal letter.
The third epistle of john is a private letter composed to a man named gaius. The book of 3 rd john is a general epistle apostolic letter. The third epistle of john, often referred to as third john and written 3 john or iii john, is the thirdtolast book of the new testament and the christian bible as a whole, and attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the gospel of john and the other two epistles of john. Christians who are faithful in showing goodness to others are to be commended. A brief synopsis the famous bible stories found in the scriptural text of the book of 3 john contained in this short summary of 3 john. No other book of the bible talks about love as often as first john. This summary of the gospel of john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the gospel of john. This summary of the book of 3 john provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 3 john. The book of 3rd john is a general epistle apostolic letter. The book of 2 john is an urgent plea that the readers of johns letter should show their love for god and his son jesus by obeying the commandment to love each other. The epistle of 3 john is a letter where john commends a christian man named gaius who showed warm hearted hospitality to certain missionary. John calls him the beloved four times verses 1, 2, 5, 11. This book is a personal letter from john, not an exchange between churches as ii john is. Book of third john overview insight for living ministries.
At the writing of this, his final epistle, john was nearing the end of his life, a life that had changed. This book is the shortest book in the new testament and was written to praise gaius and demetrius for their faithful service. While paul wrote to specific congregations and individuals, peter, james, john, and jude wrote to broader audiences scattered across the roman empire. General resources for the book of john check the scripture index for links and study resources pertaining to specific pericopes. Yet theyre all loosely tied together by the same ideas. The apostle john identified himself in 3 john only as the elder 3 john 1. Not surprisingly, the gospel of john never provides the name of its author. Book overview 3 john this also is a private letter written, some time after first john, to his personal friend, gaius. Summary of 3 john the kjv bible scriptures the content of 3 john according to the kjv bible scriptures contains a short overview of the main subjects, people, events and ancient topics in the following. While we cannot pinpoint the date with certainty due to the lack of specific information in the letter, 3 john was probably written around ad 90 from the island of. This summary of the book of 3 john provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the. Third john is characterized as an epistle by its salutation, introductory greeting and final greeting. In the first verses of both 2 john and 3 john the author identifies himself as. It was written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a.
There have been occasional doubts raised by those who thought it possible that this was written by another disciple of the lord named john, but all the evidence points to the author as john the beloved disciple who also wrote the. The third epistle of john, often referred to as third john and written 3 john or iii john, is the thirdtolast book of the new. Andy is a professor of bible and theology at the college of biblical studies in houston. Rampage, the third book in the series the singular menace created by john sandford and michele cook, was an excellent finale to the series. Aug 31, 2014 john then warns against the destructive behavior shown by diotrephes, who was spreading lies about the apostle, refusing to welcome these men and strongarming anyone who did.
No wonder so many have been saved through passages like john 1. Written by a christian named john, the contents of the book indicate quite clearly that the author was not the john who was one of the twelve disciples of jesus, for it contains no direct personal references of the type that one would expect from an intimate. The author is the apostle john, the disciple whom jesus loved. This article contains an overview of the key events and bible people found in 1 john in the bible. Gaius had received them while diotrephes had opposed their reception. In addition to this one, john wrote two other new testament letters, a gospel, and possibly the prophetic book of revelation he was a leader in the early church, and he probably wrote his documents after most of the other new testament books were already written. It is not certain that any evidence for it can be cited before the third century2 yet, since the author identifies himself as the elder and since its opening, closing, style, and outlook are so similar to 2 john, there can be little doubt that. It is written to someone named gaius, who we know nothing more about. First, the book itself identifies the author as the disciple whom jesus loved. Author it should not be surprising that 3 john has little external attestation in light of its brevity and lack of quotable material. The book of 2 john would most likely have been written at about the same time as johns other letters, 1 and 3 john, between a. Dec 11, 2016 watch our overview video on the letters of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In the first verses of both 2 john and 3 john the author identifies himself as the elder.
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