- Intro 1-4
- salutation 1
- From: The Elder (John)
- To: Gaius - nothing known beside this letter
- Whom I love in the truth
- blessing 2
- Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things
- just as your soul is prospering
- literal rendering, but no room for prosperity gospel
- just standard blessing - things go well with you
- Thanksgiving 3-4
- I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to the truth concerning you
- Just as you are walking/lifestyle in the truth
- I do not have a greater joy than this
- that I am hearing that my children are walking/lifestyle in the truth
- Body 5-12
- Gaius' hospitality 5-6
- Beloved, You are doing a faithful thing
- which you are doing for the brothers
- even though they are strangers
- They have testified about your love before the church
- The Traveller's Worthy Work 7-8
- You will do well to sending them in a manner worthy of God
- For they went out for the sake of the Name
- receiving nothing from the Gentiles
- Therefore we ought to receive such as these
- So that we may be fellow workers for the truth
- Diotrephes' arrogance 9-10
- I wrote to the church
- But Diotrephes - who loves to put himself first
- tragic description
- have you met people like this?
- have you been people like this?
- It is horrible in a church, especially in a leader
- Rather follow Jesus' example and wash feet
- He would not receive us
- Because of this, when I come I will bring to his attention the work that he is doing
- talking disparaging nonsense against us with evil words
- and this not being enough
- He refuses to receive the brothers
- And those who are willing to receive them
- He hinders them and throws them out of the church
- classic selfish control freak, hindering others to make self important
- Encouragement to receive Demetrius 11-12
- Beloved, do not imitate the evil, but the good
- The one who is doing good is from God
- The one who is doing bad has not seen God
- Demetrius is testified to by all, and by the truth itself
- We also testify to him
- And you know that our testimony is true
- Conclusion 13-15
- intended visit 13-14
- I have many things to write to you
- But I do not wish to write to you with paper and ink
- I hope soon to see you
- and we will speak mouth to mouth
- Peace wish 15
- Greetings 15
- the beloved greet you
- those at my end send their greetings
- greet the beloved by name
- greet those at your end for me