3 John Chapter 1

MSB Book notes:

Much the same as that offered for 2 John.  A difference between this epistle and 2 John is that this one is addressed to one, single person.  Gaius.  Only this and Philemon in the NT are addressed to an individual.  We have no specific information about who this man was.  3 John, like 2 John, also focuses on hospitality, but from a little different perspective.  Where 2 John was about NOT being hospitable to deceivers, 3 John is about BEING hospitable to believers.  Some guy named Diotrephes had not only refused hospitality to some true teachers sent by John, but had domineered that whole church into refusing them hospitality, and kicked out anyone who did show them hospitality.  Oh my!  An example of a church split over a difference of opinion and brought about by a single person of questionable character!  John says he is coming to straighten it all out. 

Text

Also opens with "The elder..." 

John begins by commending Gaius for his support of the "missionaries" who come his way.  Then this verse:

7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. [3Jo 1:7 ESV]

Seems to indicate that Gaius was Jewish, and that Diotrephes maybe was Gentile.  Maybe most of the teachers sent out were also Jewish, and it was really this that Diotrephes had a problem with.  An early anti-Semite?  MSB says this phrase about Gentiles means that the church was the only means of support for these missionaries.  They were not being paid for anything by others.

John specifically says next that Diotrephes does not acknowledge John's authority, and on this basis, has ignored John's letter to the church in question.  It seems likely that Gaius was a member of the same church as Diotrephes, but had "withstood him" and done the right thing by the missionaries despite Diotrephes "command" to do otherwise. 

2022 - I think these verses indicate that Gaius had indeed treated the visitors from John and presumably sent by the church at Ephesus hospitably.

3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. ...

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are,

6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. [3Jo 1:3, 5-6 ESV]

This seems to read that the ones Diotrephes refused to even acknowledge were welcomed by Gaius, and when these went back to Ephesus, they let everyone know the whole story - including that Gaius took care of them at his own expense, while that church refused even to hear them - because of Diotrephes position there.  Kind of a small town politics kind of situation is what it sounds like.