3 John 1 - A Good Report

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

- The elder is John the Apostle who is about 90 years old at this point.

- To the beloved Gaius (Gaius means Happy or One who rejoices)

- Whom I love in truth (John loved him because he served the Lord which is why he was happy and rejoicing.

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I was overjoyed when brothers came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

- Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health

o Beloved? – YES

o In all respects you may prosper? – YES

o And be in good health? – YES

- Just as your soul prospers

o Your soul prospers when you believe in Jesus

o John prayer is for blessing now and later

- For I was overjoyed (overflowing) when brothers (in the faith) came and testified to your truth (shared what they saw and heard first hand), that is, how you are walking in truth

o They were walking (moving forward in the correct direction) in truth (according to the truth of God’s word)

- I have no greater joy than this

o To hear of my children walking in the truth

o Spiritual children born from seed planted

o Do you have any spiritual children?

§ You will get great joy when you hear others confirm that they are walking in the truth (continuing on the path toward heaven!)

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brothers and sisters, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church.

- Beloved you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish.

o Acting faithfully is consistently doing the right thing in the sight of God

o For the brothers and sisters

o And especially when they are strangers.

o And they have testified to your love before the church

You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may prove to be fellow workers with the truth.

- You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God (blessed, taught, full of provision); better than when they arrived

- For they went out for the sake of the Name (the Name of Jesus)

o Accepting nothing from the Gentiles (worldly people gave nothing)

- Therefore (because we are not like them) we ought to support such people (financially)

o So that we may prove to be fellow workers in the truth (put your money where you mouth is…)

9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.

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