At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | John (the "elder") |
| Date | ~90-95 AD |
| Audience | Gaius (church member) |
| Genre | Personal epistle |
| Purpose | Commend Gaius's hospitality and warn about Diotrephes |
| Chapters | 1 (14 verses) |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Hospitality to traveling missionaries | Commended |
| Diotrephes's pride | Loves preeminence; doesn't welcome John or others |
| Imitate good | Demetrius's good testimony |
Key passages
- 3 John 5-8, supporting traveling missionaries
- 3 John 9-11, Diotrephes
- 3 John 11, "Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good"