Walking in Truth ~ Bob Caldwell

Truth and Love are Inseparable 2:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. The central place the Apostle John gave to a person's relationship to truth is a vital benchmark for us all. Gaius, who had become a follower of Christ as a result of John's ministry, had such a pervasive commitment to truth that it left John with a deep sense of joy (v. 1-4). Their mutual love for each other was expressed through the shared truths that shaped each believer's life (v. 1). This relationship with truth was not only theoretical but practical. It was something that was easily observed by those who spent time with Gaius (v. 3). The specific example given here is the practical financial support that was given to servants of Christ. Both known brethren and strangers were treated with love in a way that was "worthy of God." This becomes a vital test of our own walk as Christians. Do we care for both the known and unknown who are in need in a way that God Himself would do if He were in our place? It is to our great shame that believers in wealthy nations often show little, if any, practical concern for fellow believers in different nations who suffer financially and politically because of their faith. While thinking of those in need, John gives special emphasis to all we must do to strengthen the hands of those who are laboring to extend the truth of Christ. Next, John turns to a second expression of practical truth that is Christ. He refers to how we should deal with those who are within the church but live contrary to the truth. Their actions must be openly and honestly exposed. The example John uses is the prideful and oppressive leadership of Diotrephes, something Gaius must address, and John will directly confront when he visits their church (v. 9-10). This, too, is love expressed to others because, if left unchecked, many will be hurt spiritually. Conversely, John strongly encourages recognition of men like Demetrius who was living proof of a life lead by truth (v. 11-12). In John, the apostle of love, we find that it is not love to let falsehoods go unchallenged when it comes to living out the truths of God. In fact, it is on the basis of honest expressions of truth that we are assured we really do "know" the truth. Love will always result in a love and obedience to truth. And truth will always result in truth being expressed in love. This powerful relationship between truth and love is the path on which we will find a legitimate faith in Christ.
3 John 1:1-14 Greeting to Gaius 1 The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Gaius Commended for Generosity 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. Diotrephes and Demetrius 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. Farewell Greeting 13 I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
3 John 1:1-14 v. 1 The Elder – As in 2 John, John begins his letter by identifying himself to his readers as "the elder." This is a term used in New Testament to describe one of authority due to age and experience. This term is often used to identify an officer or leader of a group of people. the Beloved Gaius – Because Gaius was one of the most common names in the Roman Empire, it is difficult to identify precisely which Gaius this was. There were several distinct Gaiuses mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 19:19, 20:4; 1 Cor. 1:14; Rom. 16:23). What we know for sure is that this Gaius was a successful mentor of other Christian disciples and the Apostle John considered him "beloved." Love in truth – This is the same phrase John uses to begin 2 John. There is indeed a "love in truth" as there is also a "love in deceit." The love that springs forth from the Christian faith is based upon the truth of God's word as opposed to the false priorities of the world, the teachings of cults or the deceitful value system of the devil. v. 2 Beloved – John uses this Greek word, agapetos, three times in this short letter. This word "beloved" can also be translated esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love. This is certainly the way all Christians should view each other, especially since this is the way God views all Christians. that You May Prosper in All Things and Be in Health – Some today try to abuse this verse by using it as an argument for an across-the-board promise of divine health and wealth for every Christian. But notice that John "prays that." He doesn't "promise that" or even "claim that" prosperity and health will come. It is equivalent to saying to a dear friend, "I pray all goes well with you." The same Greek word used for prosper here is translated "prosperous journey" in Romans 1:10 in the KJV. In this particular context it is not speaking of wealth or worldly riches but rather success and God's blessing upon all that Gaius does. Financial prosperity is not always a blessing. As a matter of fact, if you search through the New Testament for the word "rich" or "riches" you will find many warnings of the dangers of riches. Riches can steal your heart away from the Lord's priorities for your life (Matt. 13:22, 19:23-24, 27:57). See also Proverbs 30:8-9 for the proper attitude toward material abundance. as your soul prospers – A blessed and successful spiritual life. This infers that John knew that Gaius' soul was already doing quite well, and John was praying that God would bless Gaius in all aspects in proportion to his spiritual growth. v. 3 Brethren – adelphos (Gk.) a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection Came and Testified of the Truth that is in You – This was the cause of John's great rejoicing, news that the truth of God is dwelling in another! John heard this news from reliable "brethren," fellow Christians. These fellow Christians "testified" or bore witness to the fact that the truth was in Gaius. This implies that one can recognize that "the truth is in" another and be confident by objective evidence of this fact. Walk in the Truth – When the Bible uses the phrase "walk in," it is referring to "lifestyle" or the "conduct" of one's life (John 8:12, 12:35; Rom. 4:12, 6:4, 8:1, 4, 13:13; 1Cor. 7:17). So walking in the truth signifies that a person knows the truth of God and is obediently living according to that truth by his actions and conduct. Walking in the truth is the next logical step after knowing the truth. v. 4 I No Greater Joy – This reveals the fact that the greatest joy is the joy of spiritual reproduction and fidelity. that My Children Walk in Truth – This statement suggests to us that Gaius was probably one of John's converts. v. 5 Beloved – agapetos (Gk.) dear, favorite, worthy of love. A word used to describe rich love and companionship. This word is used three times in this short 14-verse letter, demonstrating the firmly established attitude of love among the brethren. All true Christians are "beloved." They are greatly loved by God and greatly loved by their fellow believers. Love and truth are the foundations of all Christian fellowship. You Do Faithfully Whatever You Do – This is a commendation and not a command. John is praising Gaius for the way he faithfully treats others with the love of Christ. This could also be one reason John prays for Gaius' prosperity in verse two. Since Gaius is faithful to consistently use his prosperity and material possessions for the work of the Lord, the more Gaius is blessed financially, the more the work of the Lord will be furthered. Like parenting, it is proper that excellent Christian leaders not only give instruction, but praise when instruction is followed. For the Brethren and for Strangers – John commends Gaius for the hospitality he shows toward the Christians he knows, as well as those he does not know. Likewise, we should consider all Christians beloved. The Christian's love and hospitality should be extended to strangers as equally as to close friends. In the Christian faith, a stranger who belongs to Christ is just as much your family as a familiar and close Christian friend. v. 6 Borne Witness – martureo (Gk.) to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration Your Love Before the Church – It is apparent that many who have visited Gaius' home have given report of his faithful Christian love and hospitality. A good reputation is one of the most valuable things a person can possess (Prov. 22:1). In God's eyes a good reputation is not necessarily related to earthly accomplishments or personal giftedness, but rather to actions of love toward God and man. This puts everyone on an equal playing field, for not everyone is equally gifted or talented, but everyone can love. Gaius is not showing this kindness to others because he possesses some special spiritual gift that enables him to love. Gaius simply chose to love obediently because Christ commands all His followers to love and the Holy Spirit dwells in him. That same choice and power is ours. Manner Worthy of God – Or "in a manner that pleases God"(NLT). The scriptures make clear that God's people should treat, and be treated, in a way worthy of God, or in a way acceptable before God (Matt. 10:42, 25:40). It is apparent that John is encouraging Gaius to show hospitality to a specific group of missionaries who he has blessed in the past and are now journeying his way once more. Perhaps this letter was even carried by these missionaries from John to Gaius. Some suggest that Demetrius in verse 12 was among this group and maybe even their chief delegate. v. 7 for His Name's Sake – John is describing the motive of the true missionaries and ministers of God. These men of God do what they do "for His name's sake" or "for the Lord" (NLT) and not for personal motives. Taking Nothing from – These missionaries did not follow the usual pattern of the traveling con-men of their day—begging in the streets, or asking for donations from the nonbelievers. They relied entirely upon the grace of God and the hospitality of their Christian brethren. Gentiles – ethnos (Gk.) a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus. In the OT, this word referred to foreign nations not worshiping the true God. This word was synonymous with the word, "pagans." v. 8 Receive – apolambano (Gk.) to hospitably welcome and care for someone. Since traveling Christian ministers were of such integrity in motive and method, John says, "We therefore ought to receive such." John is clearly instructing Gaius to receive and assist these itinerate Christian workers. That We May Become Fellow Workers – When you assist a worker in his labor you become a partaker in his work whether good or evil. Thus, when you help a teacher of truth or a preacher of righteousness in their work, it is credited to your account in heaven. You become a "fellow worker for the truth." This means that when you support a missionary in prayer or giving, you become a fellow worker with that missionary. the Truth – The truth and validity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. v. 9 the Church – ekklesia (Gk.) An assembly of Christians. The church is never mentioned in scripture as a building, but rather as a group or gathering of believers. Diotrephes – It is obvious from John's writing that Diotrephes considered himself an authoritative Christian leader and exercised power over the small groups of Christians that John was writing to. It is interesting that John mentions him by name in a negative or defaming way. There are times when it is necessary to "point fingers" and "name names." If a false teacher or false prophet rises up and infiltrates the body of believers, it is essential to identify him by name and expose his deception so that the body of believers would be safe from his evil work (Rom. 16:17-18). Loves to Have the Preeminence – Before giving a list of the evil deeds of Diotrephes, John reveals the motive at the heart of his problem. Diotrephes, like so many so-called "Christian leaders" throughout history, loved power and position. Pride is perhaps the most wicked of all sins. Pride is what transformed the exquisite angel Lucifer into the wicked devil, Satan (Is. 14:12-14). You cannot live for self and live for God at the same time (Luke 9:23-25). Preeminence – philoproteuo (Gk.) the ambition and desire to be first Does Not Receive Us – The ultimate outcome of loving preeminence is rejecting true authority from God's chosen apostles and leaders. Diotrephes rejected the authority of Christ's Apostles and offered John no reception or welcome hospitality. v. 10 I Will Call to Mind His Deeds – John will not be afraid to confront this arrogant rebel when the proper time comes. There are times when a godly leader must take his stand and confront error if there is to be a resolve to discord. Prating Against Us – The word prating means to maliciously make false and empty accusations. This is a common method of the devil to raise up proud men who will brazenly challenge God's chosen leaders and bring division in the church. Every good Christian must learn to recognize this tactic and be on guard to never be a part of this strategy. Malicious – poneros (Gk.) bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wickedness Not Content With That, He… Forbids – This man Diotrephes does more to harm the work of God than just talk. Though words can do much damage, Diotrephes is not content to stop there, but pushes further to hinder the work of God by rejecting God's traveling missionary teachers. Then he even dares to forbid good Christians from showing hospitality to these godly travelers. Putting Them Out of the Church – it is apparent that Diotrephes did more than just threaten to excommunicate those who would show hospitality, he actually went so far as to refuse fellowship to those who showed this kindness to traveling missionary teachers from John's party. v. 11 Beloved – Though John was compelled to speak harshly against Diotrephes, he continually uses this enduring term for those he lovingly writes to (v. 1, 2). Imitate – mimeomai (Gk.) to "mimic" or follow as an example Evil – kakos (Gk.) of a bad nature; troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful Good – agathos (Gk.) pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; of good constitution or nature Do Not Imitate What is Evil, but What is Good – John is informing his readers that they have a very important choice to make. They must not imitate the evil deeds of Diotrephes. They must do what is right even in the face of the threats of this evil man. He Who Does Good is of God, but He Who Does Evil has Not Seen God – A repeat of John's teachings in 1 John 3:6-10. v. 12 Demetrius Has a Good Testimony From All – We are not given much detail to identify who this Demetrius was. It is very possible that he was the messenger carrying this letter from John to the church. The only thing we know for sure is that Demetrius had a good reputation. All who knew him spoke highly of him. From the Truth Itself – It is possible for a man to have a good reputation because he has fooled everyone around him. But John declares that Demetrius' life and reputation lines up with truth. Truth – aletheia (Gk.) The truth in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians. We Also Bear Witness… Our Testimony is True – By "we," John refers to himself and the rest of the apostles. When speaking of the truth of God, John reminds his readers that it is the apostles who have been personally sent out by Jesus to teach and establish God's truth throughout the entire world. v. 14 Peace – Thayer's Greek dictionary offers a very interesting definition for this word, "of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is." Friends – philos (Gk.) a beloved associate or companion Greet – aspazomai (Gk.) embrace, salute; to receive joyfully, welcome Greet the Friends by Name – All Christians are brothers. But not all are friends. John takes a moment to recognize that he has specific identifiable friends who are caught in the midst of this division caused by Diotrephes.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. –3 John 1:4 There is little more that we can do to aid someone in life than to share the message of Jesus Christ with them. We can bind their wounds, we can give them food, clothing, and shelter. But if we do not share the truth of Christ with them, then we have given them a temporary gift. We pray for feet to walk boldly in Your name, Jesus.