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3 John 1

A private letter, not a sermon: the elder writes to one man, Gaius, praising him for taking in traveling missionaries who went out "for the sake of the Name" and accepted nothing from outsiders. The whole letter turns on a practical question of the early church — who gets a bed and a send-off, and who decides. Watch the three names. Gaius hosts the brothers; Diotrephes, who "loves to be first," refuses them and expels anyone who helps; Demetrius is vouched for. Hospitality here is not politeness but the supply line of the mission.

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1
The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.
3
For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
4
I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.
5
Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.
6
They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God,
7
because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
8
We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9
I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
10
Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, he doesn’t receive the brothers himself, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.
11
Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.
12
Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
13
I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;
14
but I hope to see you soon. Then we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

One household against another

The conflict is concrete. The elder already "wrote to the assembly" (v.9), but Diotrephes ignored it, talked against him with malicious words, and threw out those who would receive the brothers. This is a power struggle over a local congregation, told without theological abstraction.

The verdict comes as a plain rule in verse 11 — "don't imitate that which is evil, but that which is good" — and then Demetrius is named as the living example to follow, the opposite of Diotrephes.