The Background of 3 John

The original text of 3 John is in Greek, and it is also known as the “Third Epistle of John.” The books of Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude are called the General Epistles or Catholic Epistles because they are not addressed to specific recipients and their author is the Apostle John, not Paul.

This letter and 2 John are both very short, yet they share many similar phrases:

(1)Both authors introduce themselves as “the elder” (verse 1; 2 John 1).

(2)Both mention the recipient is “the one I love in the truth” (verse 1; 2 John 1).

(3)Both express great joy that the recipient is “walking in the truth” (verse 4; 2 John 4).

(4)Both conclude by stating that they have many things to write but prefer not to do so with paper and ink, hoping to meet soon and speak face to face (verses 13–14; 2 John 12).

The two letters also have these differences: This letter focuses on three key admonitions: holding on to the truth, walking in the truth, and standing for the truth. Holding on to the truth refers to building up one’s faith; walking in the truth refers to living a life that demonstrates it; and standing for the truth refers to loyalty and fidelity in one’s conviction. To stand for the truth means to face all difficulties, to walk in the truth means to disregard all opposition, and to hold on to the truth means to not fear any philosophical heresy. These are the three lifelong lessons for believers! This book teaches us that helping others follow the truth and following the truth ourselves (the main point of the previous book) are both duties of a believer, and a path to glorifying God and benefiting others.