WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday May 3, 2015
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readers worldwide
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CO-WORKERS
WITH THE TRUTH
(Are
you a helper, or a hinderer, in the work of CHRIST?)
(3
John)
John’s third letter is actually a
personal note to his friend and fellow Church worker, Gaius, who, according to
Jewish tradition, served as the Bishop of Pergamum at the apostle’s request, in
the latter half of the first century. In this letter John is encouraging and
thanking Gaius for his faithful support of traveling Christian evangelists who
preached and taught and spread the Good News about CHRIST JESUS, our LORD and
savior.
William Barclay once
wrote, “When history judges us, will its verdict be that we were helpers, or
hinderers in the work of GOD”. In the first century, even the pagan world
faithfully accepted “the responsibility of hospitality”, and it was only right
that the Christian Church should honor one of GOD’s greatest directives also,
by doing the same. In fact, to not do so, would actually dishonor GOD and
hinder HIS work in the world. The Christian, above all others, needs to honor
the concept of hospitality among believers, as it is expected of us by our
creator, GOD the FATHER.
This third letter of
the Apostle John, just like the previous two, places a strong emphasis on love,
truth, and obedience to GOD. It also cites some of the challenges of the
Christian Church in its infancy that really, still exists, in this day and age.
In the first century, just like today, Church leaders tried to create their own
denominations, and build their own personal kingdoms so that they themselves might
rule over other men, under the guise of serving CHRIST, and promoting
Christianity. They soon forget about being a part of the larger picture that
requires us to obey GOD completely, and allow CHRIST to serve in HIS role as
head of the Church we say we pledge allegiance to.
Also in the first
century, innkeepers were not a beloved bunch, because they had long achieved
the reputation of being rip-off artist, who thrived on those who sought shelter
from the elements and criminal danger, while they traveled to and fro,
throughout the Roman Empire. In those days, many people traveled by foot, to
many locations, for the purpose of business, religion, and leisure. It became
much less of a burden, if one had a friend that they could count on to show
them hospitality along their travels.
In the “House church
era” of Christianity, those who were traveling for the LORD were trained to
accept nothing from unbelievers, and all Christians were taught to provide hospitality
to those who were partners with them in the truth (the work of CHRIST). They
were not however, to entertain, or show hospitality to those who sought to
infiltrate the Church with worldly ideas, antichrist teachings, and worldly
behavior. People who decided to join the Church had to come with the attitude
that they desired to change their way of living, and were willing to adhere to
the teachings of CHRIST JESUS going forward. In fact, anyone who denied the
“deity” and “humanity” of JESUS CHRIST were not to be welcomed into the home,
or the Church of Christian believers.
In this passage the
Greek expression “agapetos” is used by the Apostle John no less than ten times,
and it means “one that is a beloved dear friend”. Gaius had developed a
reputation for being a beloved brother and reliable helper in the work of GOD.
He often provided a safe haven for those Christian travelers who were in need
of food, clothing, and shelter while serving on their various Christian missions.
In verse 9 of this
short letter the Apostle John dishes out some strong criticism against a church
leader by the name of Diotrephes who did not acknowledge his authority. He
promised to elaborate further on the evil works of Diotrephes, who strived
diligently to hinder the advancement of the Gospel of CHRIST through both word
and deed, when he came to visit them later.
Diotrephes was not only
one who refused to welcome the traveling Christian evangelists into the local church,
but he also encouraged other members in the church body to do the same. And
whenever he found out that someone in the church did help those workers of
CHRIST, he would immediately oust them from the church. He steadfastly denied
CHRIST, and continued to omit HIS teachings from Church doctrine.
In verses 11-12 John
urges believers to not let the bad examples of Diotrephes influence them in
their thinking, but rather, they should courageously follow the examples of
Demetrius, a reliable worker in CHRIST, who was spoken highly of by everyone in
the church. He went on to encourage them to do only what is good in the eyes of
GOD, by adhering to the Word, the Gospel of CHRIST. Those who do this, he says,
prove that they are “children of GOD”, and those who seek to do otherwise,
prove that they do not know GOD.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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