3 John 1:11

The Apostle John, in his third epistle, delivers a powerful and concise moral imperative in 3 John 1:11, urging believers to align their actions with God's character. This verse serves as a fundamental principle for Christian conduct, contrasting the outcomes of good and evil deeds.

Context

Third John is a personal letter from the Apostle John to his beloved friend Gaius, commending him for his hospitality and faithfulness, especially towards traveling missionaries. The letter also addresses the negative example of Diotrephes, a leader who exhibited pride, refused hospitality, and slandered the apostles. Against this backdrop of contrasting behavior, verse 11 serves as a general exhortation that also implicitly highlights the difference between Gaius's godly actions and Diotrephes's ungodly ones. It underscores the importance of discerning true spiritual leadership and genuine faith through observable conduct.

Key Themes

• Moral Imperative: The verse presents a clear command to actively pursue what is good and to reject what is evil. This isn't merely passive avoidance of sin but an active choice for righteousness.
• Divine Origin of Goodness: Doing good is presented as a hallmark of those who truly belong to God. It suggests that righteous living is a natural outflow of a genuine relationship with the Creator, reflecting His very nature.
• Spiritual Blindness of Evil: Conversely, engaging in evil indicates a profound spiritual disconnect. "Hath not seen God" implies a lack of true knowledge, understanding, or experiential relationship with God, suggesting that one cannot truly know God while persistently practicing evil.
• Discernment and Witness: The verse implicitly teaches that one's actions serve as a visible testimony to their spiritual state and relationship with God. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating individuals, including leaders, by their fruits.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "doeth good" comes from the Greek word agathopoion (ἀγαθοποιῶν), meaning "one who does good things" or "well-doing." Similarly, "doeth evil" is from kakopoion (κακοποιῶν), meaning "one who does evil things" or "ill-doing." The contrast is stark and absolute. The expression "hath not seen God" (οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν Θεόν) does not necessarily refer to a literal physical sight of God, but rather a lack of true spiritual perception, intimate knowledge, or experiential fellowship with Him. It suggests that one whose life is characterized by evil has not truly apprehended or understood God's character and nature.

Related Scriptures

John's exhortation to follow good and reject evil resonates throughout Scripture, reflecting a core biblical principle. The declaration that "He that doeth good is of God" aligns perfectly with John's broader teaching in his first epistle, where he states that the true children of God are revealed by their righteous actions. The strong statement that "he that doeth evil hath not seen God" echoes the concept that true knowledge of God is demonstrated through obedience and love, as seen in 1 John 4:8, which proclaims that "he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

Practical Application

For believers today, 3 John 1:11 serves as a vital reminder that our actions are not incidental to our faith but are deeply indicative of our spiritual reality. It challenges us to:

• Examine Our Conduct: Are our daily choices and behaviors aligned with God's goodness, or are they characterized by evil? This calls for honest self-reflection.
• Exercise Discernment: In a world filled with conflicting messages and behaviors, this verse encourages us to evaluate others, especially those in leadership, by their fruit rather than just their words or claims.
• Live Authentically: True faith is not merely intellectual assent but is expressed through a life that actively pursues and embodies what is good, demonstrating a genuine relationship with God to the world.
• Strive for Holiness: The call to "follow that which is good" is a lifelong pursuit of holiness, reflecting the character of the God whom we claim to know.