2 & 3 John are a pair of brief letters sent to leading members of small churches. They deal with questions about itinerant teachers, which were a big feature of early church life. 2 John confronts the inappropriate hospitality offered teachers with flawed views of Christ – love needs truth. 3 John confronts an inappropriate lack of hospitality because of the influence of self-centred Diotrephes – truth needs love. Diotrephes was wrong in motive and action, and caused great problems in the church. In contrast Gaius was doing well as a leader in a difficult context, and John urged him to offer an appropriate welcome to Demetrius. This pair of letters show how love must be guided by proper values and sound doctrine.
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