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3 John.

Hospitality to itinerant teachers, and the problem of leaders who reject them.

Testament

New Testament

Section

General Epistles

Chapters

1

Date

~90 AD.

Who wrote 3 John?

John the apostle.

Who was it written for?

Gaius, a Christian leader in a local church.

Structure

  • One chapter, 14 verses.

Key verses

Why 3 John matters

A glimpse into the politics of the early church. Gaius welcomes itinerant missionaries; Diotrephes refuses them and excommunicates those who do receive them. John writes a brief letter to encourage one and to promise to deal with the other. The local detail is the universal lesson: hospitality is a real ministry, and pride masquerading as leadership is a real corruption.

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