Unger's Bible Dictionary: Third John

JOHN, THIRD EPISTLE OF

JOHN, THIRD EPISTLE OF. The third epistle of John, like the second, was written by the apostle probably around A.D. 95 AD. The aged apostle arraigned the church for permitting one Diotrephes to exercise dominating authority. In the primitive church such a thing was incredible. This domineering individual had rejected the apostolic authority. Historically this small epistle outlines the commencement of the clericalism and priestly arrogation of authority that in later centuries was to develop in such evil proportions. The believer's resource in such a day of declension is also given. John does not write as an apostle but as an elder, and the letter is addressed not to a church but to a faithful man in the church, to comfort and sustain those who were adhering to the simplicity of earlier times. The third letter of John stresses personal responsibility in a day of deterioration.

M.F.U.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: See under John, First Epistle Of.

(from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)

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