3 John

Third John is the shortest book in the Bible by word count -- a single chapter of fourteen verses, traditionally attributed to the apostle John, who again calls himself simply 'the elder.' Unlike 2 John's letter to a lady or church, this is a personal note to one man, 'the wellbeloved Gaius,' whom John loves in the truth. It gives a rare, candid snapshot of life in an early congregation: traveling missionaries, the hosts who supported them, and a local leader who refused to.

John opens by wishing Gaius health and prosperity 'even as thy soul prospereth,' and declares he has no greater joy than to hear that his children walk in truth. He commends Gaius for faithfully receiving the brethren who went forth 'for his name's sake,' taking nothing of the Gentiles; helping such men makes one a fellowhelper to the truth. Then comes the shadow: Diotrephes, 'who loveth to have the preeminence,' rejects John's letter, prates against him with malicious words, and casts out of the church those who would receive the brethren. By contrast, Demetrius has good report of all men.

Third John matters as a miniature portrait of Christian character: follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. Its two named church men -- generous Gaius and domineering Diotrephes -- still stand as the two ways to hold influence in God's house.