3 John 11-14
11-12 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
13-14 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.
I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. (ESV)
The Main Idea:
Because our conduct always reveals whose we are, we must choose our models deliberately, honour the quietly faithful, and prize the warm, face-to-face fellowship of the saints — a fellowship of peace, of friends, and of names.
1. Imitate the Good: The Command and the Man with a Good Name (vv. 11–12)
1.1 A hard line and a plain command
1.2 Conduct reveals origin
1.3 Who was Demetrius?
1.4 A good name, established by three witnesses
2. The Farewell: Face to Face, Peace, and Friends (vv. 13–14)
2.1 Ink is not enough
2.2 “Face to face”
2.3 Peace to a troubled church
2.4 “Friends”, and “by name”