Pen Portraits - Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius
- vv. 1-8. Gaius - His Character expounded
- vv. 9-11. Diotrephes - His Conduct exposed
- vv. 12-13. Demetrius - His Confidence enjoined
Gaius
- v. 2. Prosperity - physical and spiritual (prospereth=literally “makes good way,” whence link with “walking” in vv. 3 and 4)
- v. 3. Integrity - “walking in truth”
- v.4. Consistency - “walking in truth”
- v.5. Loyalty - R.V. “Thou doest a faithful work to brethren and (that) strangers”
- v. 6. Charity and v. 8. “after a godly sort - lit.: worthily of God, that is, as God would do it.
What a Host God is! How He treats His guests!
Note the importance of “Hospitality” from the following:—
exemplified in
- Abraham - Gen. 18. 2-8
- Lot - Gen. 19. 1-3
encouraged by
- The Saviour - Mt. 10. 40, 42
- The Apostles - Rom. 12. 13; 1 Pet. 4. 9; 1 Tim. 3. 2; Tit. 1. 8; Heb. 13. 2
Diotrephes
- v. 9. loved pre-eminence, lacked hospitality
- v. 10. lying slander lording over God’s heritage (cf. 1 Pet. 5. 3)
Demetrius
- v. 12. a good report - threefold witness (R.V.)
- of all (public)
- of the truth (practical and in principle) (Note: the truth here possibly = Holy Spirit)
- of apostle (personal)
