Knowing The Word in 3 John 2-8, Truth

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Q: What is truth?

A: In John’s writings truth refers to orthodox Christological belief and to ethical behavior. Here it appears the Elder is commending Gaius’ behavior in part because he does not attempt to correct Gaius’ beliefs. (The Elder also seems to be referring to Gaius as one of his converts in the phrase “my children are walking in the truth.”) The Elder commends Gaius in the following verse:

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Q: Who is the “Beloved”?

A: Addressed as “Beloved,” the Elder commends Gaius for his faithful service to the traveling missionaries, even though he did not know them. These men returned to their home church and spoke highly of Gaius. They had gone out for the “sake of the name,” meaning Jesus. They went out not to evangelize the pagan Gentiles, but to stand up and fight in-house for the correct faith about Jesus. The Elder encourages fellowship and support among Christians to fight bad, destructive theology and doctrine that suppresses the truth.

Prayer: Grant me to recognize in other men, Lord God, the radiance of your own face.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, 1881-1955