3 John 

WRITER, The apostle John.

ADDRESSED, To Gaius
 3Jo 1:1

KEY NOTE. Christian hospitality.

KEY VERSE
 3Jo 1:8

SYNOPSIS. The subject-matter centres around three characters, Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius, and some itinerant evangelists.

I. Gaius, to whom the epistle was written.

(1) The identity of this man.
This cannot be positively determined. There are several persons by this name mentioned in the New Testament. The one spoken of by Paul,
 Ro 16:23
may very likely be the same man to whom John writes but it is entirely uncertain.

(2) Characteristics of,
(a) Worthy of the affection of John
 3Jo 1:1,2
(b) A consistent Christian, walking in the truth
 3Jo 1:3,4
(c) Given to hospitality
 3Jo 1:5,6

II. Diotrephes, apparently a leading man in the church.
(a) Ambitious and bigoted
 3Jo 1:9
(b) Assuming to be an over-lord of the vineyard, will receive a merited rebuke from the apostle when he comes
 3Jo 1:10

III. Demetrius, In contrast to Diotrephes, a model churchman of excellent reputation.
 3Jo 1:12

IV. Christian evangelists.
(a) Itinerant spiritual labourers, rendering gratuitous service for Christ's sake  3Jo 1:7
(b) Worthy of hearty welcome and hospitality although bitterly opposed by the arrogant Diotrephes
 3Jo 1:8-11 

V. The closing salutation.
 3Jo 1:13,14

(Outline from Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible)

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