The book of III John
Author
- See I John
Place and Time of Writing
- See I John
Unique Characteristics
- See II John (not I John)
Audience
- Gaius
Theme
- Encourage Gaius and warn Diotrephes (The letter is only addressed to Gaius.)(They were members of the same house church.)
More details about III John
Why did John write III John?
- This house church had two members who John knew: Gaius and Diotrephes. John wrote and encouraged Gaius, but Diotrephes was causing confusion in that house church and John warned him to stop.
- verse 2: “Dear friend (meaning Gaius), I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
- verse 10: “So if I come, I will call attention to what he (Diotrephes) is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.”
- This house church may have met at Diotrephes' house, and so that is why Diotrephes felt that he could control who comes to the house church and who doesn't come.
Quiz with hover answers (Hover doesn't work for some smart phones and pads, so questions and answers here)
1. III John was written to two people, Gaius and Diotrephes.
It was only written to Gaius, although it does discuss Diotrephes.
Timeline up to the book of III John
Dates are approximate.
| Year | Event |
| 63 B.C. | Romans conquer Israel. |
| 27 B.C. | Pax Romana began and lasted until A.D. 180. |
| 4 B.C. | Jesus born. |
| All dates after this are A.D. | |
| 27 | Jesus baptized. |
| 30 | Jesus was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. Apostles travel to Jerusalem and choose Matthias to replace Judas as an Apostle. Day of Pentecost: Peter assumes leadership of Christianity. |
| 30-50 | Peter was leader of Christianity. |
| 33 | Jesus appeared to Paul and Paul became a Christian. |
| 48 | James written. |
| 48-50 | Paul's First Missionary Trip. |
| 50 | Council of Jerusalem; Paul became one of the main Christian leaders. |
| 50-55 | Paul's Second Missionary Trip. |
| 51-53 | Galatians, I & II Thessalonians, and I & II Corinthians written. |
| 55-60 | Paul's Third Missionary Trip. |
| 55 | Romans written. |
| 60-62 | Paul arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Rome. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome. |
| 62-63 | (Not in Acts) Paul probably released from prison during this time. |
| 63-65 | (Not in Acts) Paul probably traveled. He may have gone to Spain. |
| 63 | I Timothy and Titus written. |
| 64 | Fire in Rome and Christians persecuted by Emperor Nero. |
| 65 | II Timothy and I & II Peter written. (Not in Acts)Paul back in Rome; he and Peter arrested and martyred: Peter was crucified upside down and Paul was beheaded. |
| 67 | Gospel of Mark written. |
| 68 | Hebrews written. |
| 70 | Temple in Jerusalem destroyed by Romans (it has not been rebuilt). |
| 80 | Gospels of Matthew and Luke written. |
| 90 | Gospel of John and book of Acts written. |
| 95 | Christians persecuted by Emperor Domitian; Apostle John exiled on island of Patmos where he wrote Revelation. |
| 96 | Emperor Domitian died; Apostle John probably moved to Ephesus. |
| 98 | I, II, and III John written. |
| 100 | Apostle John died; he was the last Apostle to die. |
| 390's | New Testament canon "closed" at Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397). |
| 1200's | Chapters added to the New Testament. |
| 1500's | Verses added to the New Testament. |
©2016 Mark Nickens