THIRD JOHN

The third letter was from the “older man” to Gaius, with greetings to others in the congregation. It was written in customary letter style. It is so like the first and second letters in style and material that it was clearly written by the same person, namely, the apostle John. Just who Gaius was is not certain. While there are several persons by this name mentioned in the Scriptures, this may have been yet another Gaius, since the letter was written thirty years or more after the letters by Paul, Peter, James and Jude.

John urges Christian hospitality, and says that one Diotrephes, who liked to have the first place in the congregation, did not receive the messages from John or other responsible ones with respect, nor did he demonstrate any respect for other traveling representatives of the early Christian congregation. He even wanted to throw out of the congregation those who did receive such brothers hospitably. Therefore John mentioned that if he came personally, as he hoped to do, he would set this matter straight. (Vss. 9, 10) He commends to Gaius a faithful brother named Demetrius, who may have been the bearer of the letter, urging Gaius to receive hospitably those who went forth to build up the Christian congregations.

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction: The older man to Gaius, who is walking in the truth (1-4)

II. Gaius commended for showing hospitality to brothers visiting the congregation on a Christian mission (5-8)

A. Counseled to send them on their way with the same hospitality (6, 7)

B. Such hospitality is a Christian obligation (8)

III. Diotrephes, ambitious for position, shows disrespect for theocratic authority and tries to throw out those who receive the traveling brothers with respect; the writer confident he will set matters straight by a personal visit (9, 10)

IV. Gaius counseled to be an imitator of good; Demetrius mentioned as one to whom witness is borne (11, 12)

V. Closing words of peace and greetings (13, 14)

Throughout the three letters we find emphasized Christian unity, love for God by keeping his commandments, avoiding the darkness and walking in the light, showing love for the brothers and continuing to walk in the truth. Even in his old age this “older man” John was thus a great source of encouragement and strength to the congregations in Asia Minor, and to all Christians reading his letters.—See the book “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” pp. 254-258.

JOIADA

(Joiʹa·da) [shortened form of Jehoiada, meaning “Jehovah knows”].

1. Son of Paseah who helped repair the Gate of the Old City when Nehemiah had Jerusalem’s wall rebuilt.—Neh. 3:6.

2. Great-grandson of Jeshua and father of Johanan (Jonathan) in the postexilic high-priestly line. (Neh. 12:10, 11, 22) One of Joiada’s sons defiled himself and his priesthood by marrying a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, for which Nehemiah chased him away.—Neh. 13:28, 29.

JOIAKIM

(Joiʹa·kim) [Jehovah raises up].

Son and successor of postexilic High Priest Jeshua. (Neh. 12:10, 12, 26) According to Josephus, he held office at the time Ezra returned (Antiquities of the Jews, Book XI, chap. V, par. 1) However, by the time of Nehemiah’s arrival later (455 B.C.E.), Joiakim’s son Eliashib had become high priest.—Neh. 3:1.

JOIARIB

(Joiʹa·rib) [Jehovah pleads or contends].

A paternal house of priests. (1 Chron. 24:6, 7; see JEHOIARIB.) Representatives of this house (or another priest with the same name) returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem, where they remained down through the time of Ezra, Nehemiah and High Priest Jeshua’s successor Joiakim.—Neh. 12:1, 6; 11:4, 10; 12:12, 19, 26; see JEDAIAH No. 4.

JOKDEAM

(Jokʹde·am.) [people’s burning].

A city in the mountainous region of Judah. (Josh. 15:20, 48, 56) It may be the same as Jorkeam (1 Chron. 2:44), for in Vatican Manuscript No. 1209 this name replaces “Jokdeam” at Joshua 15:56. The site is perhaps to be identified with Khirbet Raqaʽ, about four and a half miles (c. 7 kilometers) S of Hebron.

JOKIM

(Joʹkim) [shortened form of Jehoiakim, meaning “Jehovah raises up”].

A descendant of Judah through his third son Shelah.—1 Chron. 2:3; 4:21, 22.

JOKMEAM

(Jokʹme·am) [let the people arise].

1. An Ephraimite city given to the Kohathites. (1 Chron. 6:66, 68) At Joshua 21:22 Jokmeam is evidently called “Kibzaim,” perhaps another or earlier name for the same site. Its location is today unknown.

2. A region bordering on the territory under the jurisdiction of Ahilud’s son Baana, one of Solomon’s twelve deputies. (1 Ki. 4:12) It is apparently the same as Jokneam.—See JOKNEAM.

JOKNEAM

(Jokʹne·am) [possibly, let the people acquire].

A city in Carmel conquered by Joshua. (Josh. 12:7, 22) Originally assigned to the tribe of Zebulun (Josh. 19:10, 11), Jokneam subsequently was given to the Merarite Levites. (Josh. 21:34) Today it is usually identified with Tell Qeimun. This mound at the foot of Mount Carmel lies some seven miles (11 kilometers) NW of Megiddo and overlooks the Valley of Jezreel. At 1 Kings 4:12 “Jokmeam” is generally viewed as a spelling error for “Jokneam.”

JOKSHAN

(Jokʹshan) [possibly, fowler].

A descendant of Abraham by Keturah and the progenitor of Sheba and Dedan.—Gen. 25:1-3; 1 Chron. 1:32.

JOKTAN

(Jokʹtan) [possibly, younger son].

A descendant of Eber, brother of Peleg, and “father” of thirteen “sons.” (Gen. 10:25-29; 1 Chron. 1:19-23) The names of some of Joktan’s descendants appear to have survived at various places in S and SW Arabia. It has been suggested that Joktan was the progenitor of the original peoples of Arabia, as distinguished from the tribes descended from the sons of Abraham by Hagar and Keturah. The geographical limits of the territory inhabited by Joktan’s descendants are Biblically described as running “from Mesha as far as Sephar” (Gen. 10:30), but the exact area covered is uncertain.

JOKTHEEL

(Jokʹthe·el).

1. A city of Judah in the Shephelah (Josh. 15:20, 33, 38), the exact location of which city is today unknown.

2. The Edomite city of Sela, which was conquered by Judean King Amaziah and renamed Joktheel. (2 Ki. 14:1, 7) It has been linked with Umm el-Bayyarah, an acropolis located some fifty miles (80 kilometers) S of the Dead Sea.

JONADAB

See JEHONADAB, JONADAB.

JONAH

(Joʹnah) [dove].

1. “Son of Amittai”; a prophet of Jehovah from Gath-hepher (2 Ki. 14:25), a border city in the territory of Zebulun. (Josh. 19:10, 13) In fulfillment of Jehovah’s word spoken through Jonah, Israel’s King Jeroboam (II) succeeded in restoring “the boundary of Israel from the entering in of Hamath