Placement in the Holy Bible:
- The twenty-fifth book of the New Testament
Author:
- John, a disciple of Jesus and the author of the last Gospel.
Intended Audience:
- An individual named Gaius, who may be a member of a local church, and who seeks to maintain loyalty to the apostles and true teachings.
Purpose:
- To provide believers with proper guidance and commend their good deeds.
- To support true teachers and criticize false teachers.
- To encourage believers to remain steadfast in love and Christian conduct.
Key Themes:
- Support for True Teachers: Encouraging support for true teachers and missionaries and commending their work.
- Criticism of False Teachers: Warning against false teachers and their misleading teachings.
- Love and Conduct: Emphasis on love and true Christian conduct, encouraging believers to continue in good deeds.
Major Sections:
- Support for True Teachers (Chapters 1-8): Commendation of Gaius’ good works and advice to support true teachers.
- Criticism of False Teachers (Chapters 9-10): Criticism of the false teacher Diotrephes and warning to avoid his deceptive influence.
- Love and Conduct (Chapters 11-14): Emphasizing the importance of true love and Christian conduct, encouraging believers to maintain good works.
Structure:
- Chapters 1-8: Praise for Gaius’ good works and support for true teachers.
- Chapters 9-10: Criticism of false teachers and advice to avoid their misleading influence.
- Chapters 11-14: Focus on love and good conduct, inspiring believers to continue doing good deeds.
Characteristics:
- Support for True Teachers: Commendation and support for true teachers and missionaries.
- Criticism of False Teachers: Warning against false teachers and their deceptive influence.
- Love and Conduct: Emphasis on the importance of love, true Christian conduct, and continuing in good works.