III John

III John was written shortly after I John and II John.  This epistle is written to a good friend of John's named Gaius.  John writes to inform Gaius that he has received good reports about his faith.  John encourages him to show hospitality to all those who are involved in  the work of God.  John informs Gaius that he wrote a member of the church named Diotrephes but that Diotrephes loved to be first and wanted nothing to do with John.  This guy was gossiping about John and his ministers.  John warns Gaius that this guy refuses to welcome the brohters from all over.  In a church society that is very strongly divided by denominational barriers, this a good book to read to learn to unite in spite of our nonessential differences.  Jojhn praises Demetrius of the church saying he is well spoken of by everyone.  There are people like Diotrephes who fill our church pews today and who manipulate things or at least try to based on their own desires.  This are the elitist people who are much like the Pharisees were.  These people need to be rebuked for their actions but if they refuse to heed the rebukes, then they need to be booted out for they will only hinder the work of the church.  John closes his book by greeting everyone and informing Gaius that he is soon to make a visit to the church.