Teaching summary of 3 John – Jude
Overall Themes
- Hospitality as gospel partnership — supporting faithful workers.
- The danger of prideful leadership — Diotrephes as a warning.
- Imitating good, not evil — character revealed by deeds.
- Contending for the faith — guarding the apostolic gospel.
- The danger of false teachers — immoral, rebellious, and deceptive.
- Remembering Scripture’s warnings — judgment in past examples.
- Keeping oneself in God’s love — prayer, perseverance, mercy.
- God’s preserving grace — the One who keeps His people from falling.
3 John
Gaius: A Model of Faithful Love
- John writes to Gaius, whom he loves in truth.
- He rejoices that Gaius walks in the truth — nothing gives John greater joy.
- Gaius shows hospitality to traveling gospel workers:
- He supports them even though they are strangers.
- He sends them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
- In doing so, he becomes a fellow worker for the truth.
Diotrephes: A Warning Against Pride
- Diotrephes loves to be first.
- He refuses to welcome the brothers.
- He spreads malicious talk against the apostles.
- He even expels those who show hospitality.
- John intends to confront his behavior when he comes.
Demetrius: A Good Example
- Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself.
- John commends him as a trustworthy example to imitate.
Longing for Personal Fellowship
- John hopes to visit soon and speak face to face.
- He ends with a blessing of peace and greetings from mutual friends.
Jude
Contending for the Faith
- Jude, the brother of James, writes to those called, loved, and kept by God.
- He intended to write about their shared salvation but felt compelled to urge them to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
- Certain people have slipped into the church unnoticed:
- Ungodly.
- Twisting grace into license for immorality.
- Denying Jesus Christ as Lord.
Examples of Judgment
Jude reminds them of Scripture’s warnings:
- Israel in the wilderness — saved from Egypt but judged for unbelief.
- Fallen angels — kept in chains for judgment.
- Sodom and Gomorrah — punished for immorality.
- These examples show that God’s judgment is real and righteous.
The Character of False Teachers
- They rely on dreams, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones.
- Jude cites Michael the archangel, who did not pronounce a blasphemous judgment but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
- False teachers:
- Are like Cain (hatred).
- Like Balaam (greed).
- Like Korah (rebellion).
- They are:
- Hidden reefs.
- Waterless clouds.
- Fruitless trees.
- Wild waves.
- Wandering stars reserved for darkness.
The Lord’s Coming Judgment
- Jude quotes Enoch: the Lord will come with His holy ones to judge the ungodly.
- False teachers are grumblers, boasters, and flatterers.
How Believers Must Respond
- Remember the apostles warned that scoffers would arise.
- Build yourselves up in the most holy faith.
- Pray in the Holy Spirit.
- Keep yourselves in the love of God.
- Wait for the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
- Show mercy to the doubting.
- Rescue others from the fire.
- Hate even the garment stained by the flesh.
The Doxology
Jude ends with one of Scripture’s most beautiful blessings:
- God is able to keep believers from stumbling.
- He will present them blameless with great joy.
- To Him be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority forever.
3 John – Jude in One Sentence
John commends faithful hospitality and warns against prideful leaders, while Jude urges believers to contend for the faith, resist false teachers, persevere in God’s love, and trust the God who keeps His people from falling.
Devotions 