front:intro gtn1 0 # 3 John Study Questions\n\nThe Apostle John probably wrote this letter to a man named Gaius in one of the churches for which John was responsible. A man named Demetrius was a leader in that church, but he refused to show hospitality to the believers who were sent out to minister to other churches, or to allow other members of the church to support them. John was very upset by this, and assured Gaius that he would come soon and rebuke Demetrius in the presence of the whole congregation. In the meantime, John urged Gaius to continue to help these believers.\n\nYou can discover John’s teaching concerning each of these things by carefully reading this letter. Ask yourself questions about what you read, and pray to God that he will open your eyes to see clearly.
1:5 is3p 0 Have you ever met strangers to whom you felt a closeness when you learned they were fellow-believers?
1:5 b5wy ξένους 1 Why is Gaius working faithfully to help **strangers**?
1:6 n5ql οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησία 1 To what quality of Gaius have these brothers testified **in the presence of the church** where John is located?
1:6 ki6h οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησία 1 Why do you think these brothers were reporting to John’s church?
1:6 f3g1 οὓς καλῶς ποιήσεις, προπέμψας ἀξίως τοῦ Θεοῦ 1 What did good thing can Gaius do for these brothers?
1:6 ux1x προπέμψας 1 Does it seem that the **journey** the brothers were taking was a personal journey, or were they going out to do ministry?
1:6 yi1f ἀξίως τοῦ Θεοῦ 1 In what way exactly should Gaius send these brothers out **in a manner worthy of God**?
1:7 u1cq ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον, μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνικῶν 1 The word **because** indicates this verse gives the reason why Gaius should help send the brothers on their journey. What is that reason?
1:7 gnu7 τοῦ ὀνόματος 1 Whose **name** is John here referring to? Why is that significant?
1:7 j96v μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνικῶν 1 Why do you think these brothers did not received any support from the unbelieving Gentiles?
1:7 s4bm μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνικῶν 1 John praised the brothers for not receiving support from unbelievers. What does that tell us about the responsibility of believers to support those sent out for ministry?
1:8 mm2f ἡμεῖς 1 Who is the **we** to whom John addresses this admonition?
1:8 h7nu ἡμεῖς & ὀφείλομεν 1 The word **ought** means we have a responsibility to help these men. How have you fulfilled that responsibility in your life?
1:9 gqv3 Διοτρέφης 1 What can we tell about the role of **Diotrephes** in the church that Gaius attended?
1:9 r15v οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς 1 What might John have referred to when he said Diotrephes **did not accept us**?
1:9 c69s ἡμᾶς 1 Who do you think John included, besides himself, in **us**?
1:10 wzy3 ἐὰν ἔλθω 1 Where did John plan to go?
1:10 rn72 ὑπομνήσω αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα 1 To whom will John **call attention to** Diotrephes works?
1:10 tbu2 ὑπομνήσω αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα 1 Does the phrase **call attention to his works** here represent praise, or rebuke? Why?
1:10 u8z3 αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα, ἃ ποιεῖ 1 What **works** of Diotrephes does John list in this verse?
1:10 szu6 λόγοις πονηροῖς 1 What motive might Diotrephes have to speak **evil words** about the Apostle John?
1:10 wk7u οὔτε αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς 1 What is Diotrephes doing that caused John to say Diotrephes **does not receive the brothers**?
1:10 uvc1 τοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει 1 How might Diotrephes be able to stop other believers in his church from receiving the brothers who have gone out from John?
1:10 c7hp ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει 1 What does it mean to put someone **out of the church**?
1:10 dxr6 0 The main thing Diotrephes is doing is doing is keeping his church from supporting brothers who are sent out to minister to people in other region. Why is John so concerned about this?
1:11 xm6i ἀγαπητέ 1 Why do you think John is once again reminding Gaius that he is **beloved** by John?
1:11 gw8y μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν 1 What is the specific **evil** thing that John does not want Gaius to imitate?
1:11 ddr2 τὸ ἀγαθόν 1 What is the specific **good** thing that John does want Gaius to imitate?
1:11 k9xu ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν 1 What does it mean to be **from God**?
1:11 x2wl ὁ κακοποιῶν 1 According to John’s instructions in this letter, who is **the one who does evil**?
1:11 r14e οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν Θεόν 1 Although Diotrephes has authority in Gaius’ church, what does this verse say about his true spiritual condition?
1:11 u971 0 According to this letter, is a person’s spiritual condition in any way dependent on his status in the local church?
1:12 fvv6 Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων 1 John introduces a new person named **Demetrius**. Is he a good or a bad person? How do you know?
1:12 ec9q Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται 1 In this verse, who, and what, does John say bears witness to **Demetrius**?
1:12 tlv5 ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας 1 John uses a metaphor in which **the truth itself** is able to testify as to what kind of person Demetrius is. What does this image teach you about truth?
1:13 dv6h οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν 1 Why might John prefer not to tell Gaius the additional things via a letter?
1:13 e9pj διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου 1 John uses **ink and pen** to refer to a written message. What other means might we use to send a message to someone today?
1:14 v89u ἐλπίζω δὲ εὐθέως σε ἰδεῖ 1 Why was it unnecessary for John to write everything to Gaius in a letter?
1:14 jb2g στόμα πρὸς στόμα λαλήσομεν 1 In what circumstances might it be much better to speak to a person directly instead of writing them a letter?
1:14 pil3 στόμα πρὸς στόμα 1 Here **mouth to mouth** is an idiom that means John will come to speak to Gaius in person. How might you best express that same idea in your language?
1:15 hw81 εἰρήνη σοι 1 This was a normal greeting for believers at that time. But how might Gaius have been especially in need of **peace** in light of what Diotrephes was doing in his church?
1:15 j4ni οἱ φίλοι & τοὺς φίλους 1 John formerly referred to the believers as “the brothers,” but in this closing verse, he calls them **the friends**. What does this additional title tell you about these believers and to how they related to one another?
1:15 vs4a ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι. ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους 1 It was common in that day for the believers to send greetings to one another. Why might that have been important to them? Is this still important to you? Why?
1:15 g3ja κατ’ ὄνομα 1 The phrase **by name** can mean the believers knew each other well enough to know their names, or it might mean they should greet one another individually instead of only as a group. How should those meanings affect the way you interact with other believers?
See in Reader
