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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday August 18, 2019
CARING FOR THE LORD’S WORKERS
(Co-workers in the truth)
3 John
John’s
third letter is actually a personal note to his friend and fellow Church
worker, Gaius, who, according to Jewish tradition, served as the Bishop of
Pergamum at the apostle’s request, in the latter half of the first century. In
this letter John is encouraging and thanking Gaius for his faithful support of
traveling Christian evangelists who preached and taught and spread the Good
News about CHRIST JESUS, our LORD and savior.
William Barclay once wrote, “When history
judges us, will its verdict be that we were helpers, or hinderers in the work
of GOD”. In the first century, even the pagan world faithfully accepted “the
responsibility of hospitality”, and it was only right that the Christian Church
should honor one of GOD’s greatest directives also by doing the same. In fact,
to NOT do so, would actually dishonor GOD and hinder HIS work in the world. The
Christian, above all others, needs to honor the concept of hospitality among
believers, as it is expected of us by our CREATOR, GOD the FATHER.
This third letter of the Apostle John, just
like the previous two, places a strong emphasis on love, truth, and obedience
to GOD. It also cites some of the challenges of the Christian Church in its
infancy that really, still exists, in this day and age. In the first century,
just like today, Church leaders tried to create their own denominations, and
build their own personal kingdoms so that they themselves might rule over other
men, under the guise of serving CHRIST, and promoting Christianity. They soon
forget, however, about being a part of the larger picture that requires us to
obey GOD completely, and allow CHRIST to serve in HIS role as head of the
Church we say we pledge allegiance to.
Also in the first century, innkeepers were
not a beloved bunch, because they had long achieved the reputation of being
rip-off artist, who thrived on those who sought shelter from the elements and
criminal danger, while they traveled to and fro, throughout the Roman Empire.
In those days, many people traveled by foot, to many locations, for the purpose
of business, religion, and leisure. It became much less of a burden, if one had
a friend that they could count on to show them hospitality along their travels.
In the “House Church Era” of Christianity,
those who were traveling for the LORD were trained to accept nothing from
unbelievers, and all Christians were taught to provide hospitality to those who
were partners with them in the truth (the work of CHRIST). They were not
however, to entertain, or show hospitality to those who sought to infiltrate
the Church with worldly ideas, antichrist teachings, and worldly behavior.
People who decided to join the Church had to come with the attitude that they
desired to “change their way of living”, and were willing to adhere to the
teachings of CHRIST JESUS going forward. In fact, anyone who even denied the
“deity” and “humanity” of JESUS CHRIST were not to be welcomed into the home,
or the Church of Christian believers.
In this passage the Greek expression
“agapetos” is used by the Apostle John no less than ten times, and it means
“one that is a beloved dear friend”. Gaius had developed a reputation for being
a “beloved brother” and “reliable helper” in the work of GOD. He often provided
a safe haven for those Christian travelers who were in need of food, clothing,
and shelter while serving on their various Christian missions.
In verse 9 of this short letter the Apostle
John dishes out some strong criticism against a Church leader by the name of
Diotrephes, who, did not acknowledge his authority. He promised to elaborate
further on the evil works of Diotrephes, a man who strived diligently to hinder
the advancement of the Gospel of CHRIST through both word and deed, when he
came to visit them later.
Diotrephes was not only one who refused to
welcome the traveling Christian evangelists into the local church, but he also
encouraged other members in the church body to do the same. And whenever he
found out that someone in the church did help those workers of CHRIST, he would
immediately oust them from the church. He steadfastly denied CHRIST, and
continued to omit HIS teachings from Church doctrine.
In verses 11-12 John urges believers to not
let the bad examples of Diotrephes influence them in their thinking, but
rather, they should courageously follow the examples of Demetrius, a reliable
worker in CHRIST, who was spoken highly of by everyone in the church. He went
on to encourage them to do only what is good in the eyes of GOD, by adhering to
the Word, the Gospel of CHRIST. Those who do this, he says, prove that they are
“children of GOD”, and those who seek to do otherwise, prove that they do not
know GOD.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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