New Catholic Bible/The Third Letter of John

**The Third Epistle of John**, as translated by the Co-Fraternity of Christian Doctrine in the New American Bible - Revised Edition.

### Personal and Doctrinal Problems

This is a letter of encouragement that deals with the problems of individuals. Above all, it has to do with the life of a local Church in which communication has become difficult, probably because of the appearance there of the Gnostic initiates, of whom we have already spoken in the Introduction to the First Letter of John. They were spreading false teachings, agitating Churches, and destroying the true Gospel.

Let us review the situation. Diotrephes, head of a local Church and probably involved in the new Gnostic currents of thought, has refused to communicate with the “Presbyter,” who is certainly a witness of Jesus and in charge of all the Churches of the region; in all likelihood, he is John the Apostle. The man locally in charge rejects the itinerant missionaries, whose task it was to proclaim the Gospel and establish and develop Churches.

However, in this community there is a steadfast man, Gaius, who must be supported in his behavior and his undertakings; he is a man who courageously receives and supports the missionaries.

A third person comes on the scene: Demetrius, who likewise deserves to be supported and encouraged.

This Letter was written about the same time as the other two Letters of John.

 **The Divisions of The Third Letter of John**

The Third Letter of John may be divided as follows:

**Salutation (1-2)**

**Commendation of Gaius (3-8)**

**Condemnation of Diotrephes (9-10)**

**Exhortation to Gaius (11)**

**Example of Demetrius (12)**

**Conclusion (13-15)**

## CHAPTER 1

**Salutation.**

**1** The Presbyter

to my beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. **2** Beloved, I pray that everything is going well with you and that your bodily health is equal to that of your soul.

**Commendation of Gaius.**

**3** I rejoiced greatly when some of the brethren

arrived and related how faithful you are to the truth, and that you continue to walk in the truth. **4** Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

**5**

Beloved, you have been faithful in everything you do for the brethren, especially to strangers. **6** They have testified before the Church to your love. Please continue to help them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. **7** For they began their journey for the sake of the Name,

and they have refused to accept any support from nonbelievers. **8** Therefore, we ought to show hospitality to such people so that we may be collaborators in the truth.

**Condemnation and Diotrephes.**

**9** I have previously written something to the Church, but Diotrephes,

who enjoys being in a position of leadership, refuses to acknowledge our authority. **10** Therefore, if I come, I shall draw attention to what he is doing. He has circulated false charges against us. And not content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brethren but interferes with those who want to do so and expels them from the Church.

**11**

**Exhortation to Gaius.**

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil; rather, imitate what is good. Whoever does what is good is from God. Whoever does what is evil has never seen God.

**12**

**Example of Demetrius.**

Everyone has spoken favorably about Demetrius,

and so has the Truth itself. We also will vouch for him, and you are well aware that our testimony is true.

**13**

**Conclusion.**

I have much to write to you, but I do not think it prudent to do so with pen and ink. **14** Instead, I hope to visit you in the very near future, when we can talk together face to face.

**15** Peace be with you. The friends

send you their greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.

## FOOTNOTES

**3 John 1:1:**
**Presbyter:**
**see** **note** **on** **2 John 1:1.**
**Gaius:**

a loyal member

of one of the churches

in the province of Asia,

who bears

a common

Roman name—one

mentioned

in four other places

in the New Testament

**(Acts 19:29;** **Acts 20:4;** **Romans 16:23;** **And** **1 Corinthians 1:14).**
**3 John 1:2:**

John wishes Gaius well

both spiritually and physically,

for he knows

that grace and health

are two of

the greatest gifts

of God.
**3 John 1:3:**
**Brethren:**

most likely itinerant missionaries

to whom Gaius

showed Christian hospitality.

**Walk in the truth:**

i.e.,

practice true Christian living.
**3 John 1:5:**

Apparently,

the early Church

provided hospitality

and support for missionaries

because they had given up

their means of livelihood

in order to preach the faith to others

and deserved some kind of compensation

**(see** **1 Corinthians 9:3-1 Corinthians 9:12).**
**3 John 1:7:**
**Name:**

of Jesus Christ

**(see** **note** **on** **Acts 5:41),**

which expresses the mystery

of his divinity

(see Phil 2:9; Jas 2:7; 1 Jn 2:12; 3:23; 5:13).
**3 John 1:9:**
**Diotrephes:**

a leader of the local church

who overstepped his boundaries.

He not only failed to

give allegiance to the Presbyter

but also refused to offer hospitality

and support

to the missionaries

who came to his church.
**3 John 1:11:**

John exhorts Gaius

to keep on doing good

and not be swayed

by the un-Christian behavior

of Diotrephes.
**3 John 1:12:**
**Demetrius:**

possibly the bearer of the Letter.

He may have been an important member

of the community

or one of the missionaries.

**Spoken favorably . . . and so has the Truth itself:**

most likely,

John is referring to the

Truth of the Gospel

in Demetrius’ life.

Like Gaius,

Demetrius is

“walking in the truth.”

He lives the life of love.
**3 John 1:13:**
**See** **2 John 1:12-2 John 1:13**

for a similar conclusion.
**3 John 1:15:**
**Friends:**

probably those

who oppose Diotrephes

and are loyal

to the Presbyter.

## OTHER BOOKS OF THE NEW CATHOLIC BIBLE TRANSLATION

 **THE BOOKS OF THE CATHOLIC BIBLE IN THE NEW CATHOLIC BIBLE TRANSLATION**

### Old Testament

#### Pentateuch/Torah:

1. The Book of Genesis
2. The Book of Exodus
3. The Book of Leviticus
4. The Book of Numbers
5. The Book of Deuteronomy

#### Historical Books:

1. The Book of Joshua
2. The Book of Judges
3. The Book of Ruth
4. The First Book of Samuel
5. The Second Book of Samuel
6. The First Book of Kings
7. The Second Book of Kings
8. The First Book of Chronicles
9. The Second Book of Chronicles
10. The Book of Ezra
11. The Book of Nehemiah
12. The Book of Tobit
13. The Book of Judith
14. The Book of Esther
15. The First Book of Maccabees
16. The Second Book of Maccabees

#### Poetic Books:

1. The Book of Job
2. The Book of Psalms
3. The Book of Proverbs
4. The Book of Ecclesiastes
5. The Book of the Song of Songs
6. The Book of Wisdom
7. The Book of The Wisdom of Ben Sira

#### Prophetic Books:

1. The Book of Isaiah
2. The Book of Jeremiah
3. The Book of Lamentations
4. The Book of Baruch
5. The Book of Ezekiel
6. The Book of Daniel
7. The Book of Hosea
8. The Book of Joel
9. The Book of Amos
10. The Book of Obadiah
11. The Book of Jonah
12. The Book of Micah
13. The Book of Nahum
14. The Book of Habakkuk
15. The Book of Zephaniah
16. The Book of Haggai
17. The Book of Zechariah
18. The Book of Malachi

### New Testament

#### The Four Gospels

1. The Gospel according to Matthew
2. The Gospel according to Mark
3. The Gospel according to Luke
4. The Gospel according to John

#### Pauline Epistles

1. The Letter to The Romans
2. The First Letter to The Corinthians
3. The Second Letter to The Corinthians
4. The Letter to The Galatians
5. The Letter to The Ephesians
6. The Letter to The Philippians
7. The Letter to The Colossians
8. The First Letter to The Thessalonians
9. The Second Letter to The Thessalonians
10. The First Letter to Timothy
11. The Second Letter to Timothy
12. The Letter to Titus
13. The Letter to Philemon

#### The General Epistles/Catholic Epistles

1. The Letter of James
2. The First Letter of Peter
3. The Second Letter of Peter
4. The First Letter of John
5. The Second Letter of John
6. **The Third Letter of John**
7. The Letter of Jude