¶ Intro
Welcome to the reading of the Third Epistle of John , Chapter 1 , with In the Field Audio Bible . My name is Christie , your host for this episode . This final epistle of John reflects not only love but John's position of authority and influence .
He recognizes Gaius as a faithful believer in the truth to people he knows and those he does not , Gaius shows us how opening one's home to others keeps us steadfast in the truth . For those of us who serve or may soon be called to mission life , John details the difference between taking from others .
For those of us who serve or may soon be called to mission life , John details the difference between taking from others rather than letting God put forth people he needs to help us serve him . And in this epistle God used Gaius to support the mission of helping others so they could spread the gospel .
I hope you have found your quiet place and enjoy this reading of the Third Epistle of John , Chapter 1 .
¶ 3 John
The Third Epistle of John , Chapter 1 . I , the elder , am writing this letter . I am sending it to you , my dear friend Gaius . I love you because of the truth . Dear friend , I know that your spiritual life is going well . I pray that you also may enjoy good health and I pray that everything else may go well with you .
Some believers came to me and told me that you are faithful to the truth . They told me that you continue to live by it . This news gave me great joy . I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living by the truth . Dear friend , you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters .
You are faithful even though they are strangers to you . They have told the church about your love . Please help them by sending them on their way in a manner that honors God . They started on their journey to serve Jesus Christ . They didn't receive any help from those who aren't believers , so we should welcome people like them .
We should work together with them for the truth . I wrote to the church , but Diotrephes will not welcome us . He loves to be the first in everything . So when I come , I will point out what he is doing . He is saying evil things that aren't true about us . Even this doesn't satisfy him , so he refuses to welcome other believers .
He also keeps others from welcoming them . In fact , he throws them out of the church . Dear friend , don't be like those who do evil . Be like those who do good . Anyone who does what is good belongs to God . Anyone who does what is evil hasn't really seen or known God . Everyone says good things about Demetrius . He lives in keeping with the truth .
We also say good things about Him and you know that what we say is true . I have a lot to write to you , but I don't want to write with pen and ink . I hope I can see you soon . Then we can talk face to face . May you have peace . The friends here send their greetings . Greet to each one of the friends there .