This is the third in a series of three letters to counter the work of false teachers in the church.  This letter is somewhat different because it is the first to name the individual to whom it is written, that is, “the beloved Gaius.”  The focus of the letter is once again on hospitality but from a different perspective.  2 John warns against showing hospitality to false teachers, while 3 John condemns the lack of hospitality shown to faithful ministers of God’s Word.

The Praise Regarding Christian Hospitality (1-8)

1. In all three of his letters, John has focused on walking in the truth.  We saw in his second letter that truth, love and obedience are unbreakably tied together in the Christian’s expression of faith.  What is the truth?  It is all that Jesus the Christ (Messiah) is, from the OT through the NT, from eternity past to eternity future, as revealed by the Spirit in the Word.  If we walk in the truth as Jesus walked in the truth, our lives will reflect the Christ love within us.
2. Gaius was obviously not well physically, but his spiritual life was excellent.  John hopes that the physical would match the spiritual.  I hope that it is true for many of us who are not well, that our spiritual well-being would match our physical health.  Of course, this flies in the face of many “faith-healers” who believe that sickness is the result of sin in the life, and that if a person is not healed, it’s because of a lack of faith.  Obviously, Gaius did not lack faith!
3. This verse speaks of the excellent spiritual reputation that Gaius had.  His walk matched his talk!  John commends him for the fact that not only did he know the truth, but that he faithfully practiced it too.
4. Is there any greater joy than knowing and seeing that your children live faithfully in God’s Word?  John feels the same way about these Christians.  Their conduct of living in the truth through faith shows their integrity.
5. “You are doing a good work” – genuine faith always produces genuine good works.  Gaius practiced loving hospitality not only toward those he knew, but also to the itinerant preachers who were strangers to him.
6. When we do a good work for others, our reward often comes in the form of those we have blessed telling others of their joy in the blessing.  It is a great witness of love before the church, when we treat others as God would treat them.
7. In vv.7-8 John gives several ways we can practice hospitality in a “manner worthy of God (v.6).”  First, one must show hospitality to those who serve with a pure motive, that is, the itinerant teachers doing God’s work not for their own glory - they did it for the Lord’s sake.  Second, one must show hospitality to those who are not in ministry for money.  The itinerant teachers accepted nothing from those who were not Christians. 
8. Third, those who show hospitality participate in the ministries of those to whom hospitality is shown.  We become partners with them for the truth.

 The Condemnation Regarding Violating Christian Hospitality (9-11)

9.      In direct contrast to the beloved Gaius who practiced loving hospitality, Diotrephes loved only playing the leader among them, even to the point of denying John’s apostolic authority over the church.  Christ alone is the head of the church and gave authority to the apostles to establish churches around the world. 

10.  If John was able to visit the church, he would expose this false leader.  Diotrephes was guilty of four things: First, He was guilty of taking over John’s authority and speaking against him to the church.  Second, what he spoke was evil and untrue.  Third, he refused to welcome the traveling teachers.  He showed no sign of the love evidenced through true faith.  Fourth, he refused to let others in the church help the itinerant teachers, and when they did, he put them out of the church.

11. Gaius was warned not to imitate what was evil, rather to do that which was good.  The doctrine of works is seen here as John says that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

The Conclusion Regarding Christian Hospitality (12,13)

12. John ends his letter with a glowing commendation of Demetrius, who was the carrier of the letter.  John says that even truth itself speaks highly of Demetrius.  He is the personification of what truth is and truth was the standard by which he was measured.  It is what every Christian should strive for – others, believers and unbelievers alike seeing God’s light reflected in your life.