1 chapters · 4 video commentaries · covered in 2 courses
3 John is a brief personal letter from 'the elder' to Gaius, focusing on the importance of hospitality within early Christian communities. It addresses issues of welcoming traveling teachers and the proper conduct of church leaders.
AuthorThe author is anonymous, identifying only as 'the elder.' Critical scholars generally agree that 3 John, like 1 and 2 John, is falsely attributed and not written by the apostle John.
WrittenLate 1st century CE
GenreLetter
AudienceGaius, a leader or prominent member within a Christian community, and by extension, the community itself.
PurposeTo commend Gaius for his hospitality, encourage continued support for itinerant Christian missionaries, and warn against a disruptive figure named Diotrephes.
Covered inThe New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube
What our scholars get into
Our commentary on 3 John delves into its unique brevity, noting with *The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible* that its length roughly corresponds to what could fit on a single sheet of papyrus, suggesting the medium may have constrained its size. We explore the letter's strong emphasis on hospitality towards traveling teachers, encouraging believers to be 'fellow workers in the truth.' Bart Ehrman highlights that early Christians, as evidenced by Eusebius and Origen, had the freedom to question the authorship of texts like 2 and 3 John, a historical precedent that contrasts with modern discomforts. You'll also find discussions on the striking linguistic and theological similarities between 3 John and the Gospel of John, leading scholars to consider them part of a 'Johannine family of texts.'
Introduction drafted from the lecture transcripts by AI, pending the team's edit.
The letter of 3 John, presented as a private letter from 'the elder' to Gaius, stresses the importance of hospitality towards traveling teachers and itinerant preachers. It encourages supporting such individuals to be 'fellow workers in the truth,' highlighting the value of welcoming and assisting those who spread the Christian message.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 12: Three Enigmatic Letters | 1, 2, and 3 John · watch the clip
Background and context
Length of 2 and 3 John and Papyrus Sheets
The brevity of 2 John and 3 John, each around 250 words, is notable because this length roughly corresponds to what could be accommodated on a single standard sheet of papyrus in the ancient world. This suggests that the medium of writing may have constrained the length of these particular New Testament texts.
Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 2: From Scrolls to Scripture | How the New Testament Was Handed Down · watch the clip
Historical Freedom to Question Authorship in Early Christianity
Early Christians, as evidenced by 4th-century church historian Eusebius and 3rd-century Origin, had the freedom to question the authorship of New Testament texts like 2 and 3 John or Jude. This historical precedent contrasts with the modern discomfort some faith communities feel when questioning traditional attributions.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Church vs Universities: Who Gets the New Testament Right? · watch the clip
