The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

3 John 1:8, “Therefore, we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with

the truth.”

Things that are large often create more attention than things that are small. But should they? Some books contain over 700 pages; but are they better than a book of only 130 pages? It all depends on the purity and accuracy of the content.

The Apostle John wrote this third letter many years after the Resurrection and Ascension of

Jesus Christ. It has only one chapter of 14 verses, but contains some valuable advice for the early church. What appears to be the essential thrust of the letter is that Gaius and others always walk (live) in truth. Just stick with the truth of the Bible!

He also commends the church for entertaining strangers –people who embraced the same biblical faith, but are personally unknown to the church. I’m grateful for John’s emphasis on

this because I’ve often been the “stranger,” who was welcomed into the homes of believers.

Whether John also intends to subtly contend for missionary activity, I’m not sure. Such was the thrust of the early Church; yet the apostle urges the opposite in his second letter (2 Jn. 1:10), when he warns against allowing anti-Christian “missionaries” into your house to share their anti-Christian religions.

John then draws focus on two men with respect to their personal attitudes. Diotrephes, whose name translates, “cherished by Zeus,” is unfortunately, still with us! He was one of those who thought he knew everything and, therefore, should be the only one to decide who should be allowed in the church, either as a member or simply as a visiting brother. Unfortunately, church “bosses” have outlasted the Apostle John now by some 2,000 years.

Demetrius, on the other hand, was a model Christian. It’s interesting to note that his name is

the same as the Demetrius of Acts 19, who opposed the Apostle Paul’s denunciation of the Greek goddess, Artemis. Is it possible that the two men could be one and the same person?

In any event, John found this Demetrius most commendable. Yes, we should commend the

commendable in our churches; and we should oppose and pray for the Diotrephesians.

In summary, therefore, John’s advice reaches us through the centuries saying, “Let Christ live

in and through your life.” Be a model believer; be missioin-minded: pray for and support those who are sharing the Gospel in foreign lands. Don’t be too big for your spiritual britches! Work

with the godly leaders in your church and earnestly share Christ with the lost.

What a challenge we have! Yet, Christ is with us!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”