Third John

Definition and Meaning

Third John is one of the General Epistles of the New Testament. The General Epistles (also called the Catholic Epistles) are letters addressed not to a single specific church but to several churches or to individuals. The book is not divided into chapters and consists of 15 verses in the New Korean Revised Version. Measured by the number of words in the original Greek, it is generally regarded as the shortest book in the New Testament. Although the book has only one chapter, Korean churches commonly cite it with a chapter number, as in "3 John 1:2."

Biblical and Historical Background

The writer identifies himself only as "the elder." Church tradition has identified him as the apostle John and has regarded the letter as the work of the same author as the Gospel of John, First John, and Second John. Some scholars, however, attribute it to a different figure known as "John the Elder." The letter is commonly dated to the late first century.

The letter is addressed to Gaius and centers on three individuals:

• Gaius: commended for showing hospitality to itinerant evangelists who traveled for the sake of the Lord's name (3 John 1:5-8).
• Diotrephes: described as one who "loveth to have the preeminence" in the church, he is rebuked for refusing to receive the elder's letter and the evangelists (3 John 1:9-10).
• Demetrius: commended as one who "hath good report of all men" (3 John 1:12).

The letter is read as a source that sheds light on the practice of hospitality in the early church and on conflicts over leadership within a local congregation. In the ancient church it was sometimes classified, along with Second John, among the books whose canonical status was disputed. By the fourth century it is understood to have been widely included in canonical lists. The canon refers to the books of Scripture that the church has recognized as the standard of faith.

Practice in the Korean Church

The best-known verse in Korean churches is 3 John 1:2:

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

This verse frequently appears in letters and text messages exchanged among church members, in prayers of blessing offered during pastoral visitation, and on framed wall hangings and calendars.

The verse is also well known as the biblical basis for the "Threefold Blessing" (the prospering of the soul, prosperity in all things, and good health) preached by Pastor David Yonggi Cho.

• Supporters: Churches that accept this interpretation, including the Full Gospel–affiliated Korea Assemblies of God, understand the verse to mean that the gospel extends not only to the soul but to the whole of a person's life and body.
• Critics: Critics point out that the verse reflects a conventional greeting commonly used in Greco-Roman letters of the period. They also argue that reading it as a promise of material prosperity can lead toward prosperity theology.

In addition, the commendation of Gaius is frequently cited in sermons encouraging support for missionaries and the practice of hospitality. Diotrephes is cited as a cautionary example against attempts to monopolize power within the church.