The Pulpit Commentary — 3 John — Section 4

its work. Gaius WR~ R member of a Christian Church (ver. 9, -r'ff ,,.,.,..,,O',,), thou~h we oo not know of which. Ho wae, npparontly, one of St. John's own spiritual children (ver. 4, -ra. lµl -rl,cvm), who gave the e.postle unfeigned joy (ver. 3), BB, beholding his 8teadfast grasp of the truth (ver. 3) and hie upright walk, ho regardod this 11B the greateRt gift of God's grace (ver. 4) ho could oesire to receive. His reputation wu 80 well maintainea (vcr. 6) that the apostle felt sure enough of hie true spiritual prosperity to warrant him in chPriehing the wish that he might make as much tiroareee and be in ns good health in a worldly as he was in a religious point of view (ve~ 2), Gaiu~ WII.B not only n helper of hie own Church, but a lover of the brethren, even though they might be strangers to him (ver. 5, Greek); for when men had gone forth among the Gentiles, taking nothing from them, and bad spread abroad the Kame (ver. 7), it wns the delight of Gaius to help such forward on their journey (ver, 6). Still, his work was not easy. Diotrephes, who loved office, wns probably jealous of the influence which Gaius bad acquired by his unambitious service (vers. 6-9); so that John takes occasion to assure Gaius that what be has done he has well done (ver. 6), and that when he (the apostle) next visits the Church, he will put Diotrephes to shame (ver. 10). It is interesting to note that here, as in his Second Epislle, be speaks of himself as "the elder" (ver. 1). The various expressions in the letter which touch upon t11e Church life of those days, do, when ii;athered up and set in order, put before us a Church picture unique in the New Testament writings. I. THERE IS A DISTINCT Ommen HERE SPEC[FIED OVER WHIOH THE APOSTLE JOHN HAD so:r.m onmsmHT. We have before reme.rked (homily on 2 John) that the e.postles' range of superintendence was much wider than tbe.t of those who were only presbyters or bishops, or o,·erseers (see Bi~hop Lightfoot, 'Ep. Phil.'). Yet in reference to specific Churches, or individuals in them, it is as presb.yter that he writes (ver. 1). That there is a distinct Church, to which Gaius belonged, is clear from vers. 9 and 10. The conception of one vast territorial Church does not belong to the New Testament books -" the Churches of Galatia" (Gal. i. 1); "the Church at Ephesus" (Rev. ii. 1), etc. II. THE MEMBERS OF THIB CHURCH WERE UNITED IN A HOLY FELLOWSHIP, AND REOEIVED EACH OTHEB IN Cmt1sT's NAME. (Ver. 8; Rom. xiv. 1.) They met together and received reports of faithful Christian service (ver. 6), and were addressed as a community by the apostle (ver. 9). III. Tms Cmmcn HAD A SELF-AOTING OONSTITUTION. (Vere. 9, 10.) This Dio- trephes, who Jo,;ed to have the pre-eminence, and to exercise the power of cBsting men out of the Church, is one whose lordl.v ambition is evidently overriding all, and even defying the apostle himself. Evidently this is abnormal. It will be brought to an end. Why? Because the authority of a Church can only be exercised by the Church itself, and cannot be delegated to or usurped by another without a. gross invasion of the rights of the Christian priesthood. Of this, more further on. Just now let us observe tliat the precepts laid down to Churches are such that they cannot be carried out if the Church allows its authority to slip from itself (1 Cor. v.), or if out of any temporal consideration whatever it allows its movements to be regulated by an outer and alien power. IV. THE OBJECTS BET BEFORE THIS CHURCH ABE CLEAR AND DEFINITE. (Ver. 8.) "'!'hat we may be fellow-workers with the truth." It is assumed here that the Church is composed of s11ch as believe and know and exemplify the truth as it is in Jesus, rThough there is no allusion in this letter either to Jesus Christ or to the gospel, yet the phrase, "the truth," bears no uncertain meaning when it comes from John's pen.] These, and these alone, can be fellow-workers therewith. The aim of a Church in its. fellowship is not only mutual sympathy, common worship, or the building up of itself from the families of its members. All these a.re necessary, but these necessary things are not all The Church is for the diffusion of the truth far and wide. It is bound to send forth men who i;hall go out among the Gentiles for the ea.ke of the Name, like those to whom Gaius was so conspicuous a friend; yea, and to set forward 111.1.ch on their journey" worthily of God." We gather from the letter that Gaius took such a task upon himself, btce.use Diotrephee would not allow it to be done, but that properly the Church ought to have done it, and not have suffered the whole weight to rest on the shoulders of one man (cf. vers. 5-10). They should have been sustained by the Church from which they went out (if,jll.6011).  'l'IIE THIRD EPISrLE OJ<' JOHN. 5