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3 JOHN – LESSON 12

I. EXPOSING DIOTREPHES AND IMITATING DEMETRIUS (v. 9-14)

A. Diotrephes exposed (v. 9-10).

1. Loves the preeminence among his brethren.

2. Doesn’t receive God’s messengers.

3. Upon John’s arrival, he will remind people of Diotrephes’ harmful language towards God’s messengers.

4. Forbids other to receive God’s messengers.

5. Casts out of the church those who receive God’s messengers.

B. Gaius encouraged to imitate good, not evil (v. 11).

1. Good is of God.

2. The one practicing evil has not seen God.

C. Demetrius is worthy of imitation (v. 12).

1. Good reputation among men in general

2. Good according to objective truth

3. Good according to the apostles

D. Final salutation (v. 13-14)

1. John has many things to discuss, but not by ink and pen.

2. Will discuss things shortly in Gaius’ presence – face to face.

3. Well-wishes of peace with salutation from friends.

4. Gaius exhorted to salute the friends by name.

QUESTIONS :

1. What was the fundamental problem with Diotrephes?

2. How were his actions different from Gaius’?

3. What two characteristics describe the words used by Diotrephes toward John and his messengers?  

4. How did Diotrephes try to secure having his way in the church?

5. Where does “good” originate?

6. “He that doeth _______________ hath not _________________ God.”  

Explain the meaning of the above statement:

7. What three-fold testimony stood behind the good character of Demetrius?

8. What does it mean to “salute the friends by name” ?