3 John
Navigating Egos and Hospitality in the Early Church
Third John is a brief, intensely personal letter written by a leader who identifies himself only as "the elder"—traditionally believed to be the apostle John. Written near the end of the first century, it is addressed to a dear friend named Gaius.
While First John is a broad sermon and Second John warns a congregation against false teachers, Third John deals with a very human, administrative problem: a local church leader whose ego has gotten out of control. This leader is rejecting traveling missionaries and expelling anyone who tries to welcome them.
For modern readers, this tiny letter is a refreshing dose of reality. It proves that the early church wasn't a perfect, conflict-free utopia. It asks us to look at how we treat the people doing the groundwork of faith and challenges us to support truth rather than catering to toxic leadership.
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