John, Third Epistle of

The Third Epistle of John is a personal letter from "the elder" to a man named Gaius, commending him for his faithful hospitality to traveling missionaries and contrasting his conduct with that of Diotrephes, who refused to welcome the brethren and expelled from the church those who did. A third figure, Demetrius, is commended as having a good testimony from all. The letter provides a rare glimpse into the practical mechanics of early Christian itinerant mission and the authority disputes within local congregations.