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3 John – Chiasm
If I had to predetermine the chiastic center for 3 John, I would have chosen v.11: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” One of the dangers of rearranging the chiasm is to set it up according to how we think it should go. However, that does not appear to be the center.
According to the arrangement below, 3 John centers on John’s possible coming and Diotrephes’ sinful works and words. This matches the overall tone of the letter since this spiritual enemy of John is a central character. It also shows an important point: The apostle of love also loves the truth enough to condemn those who are acting contrary to it.
Although 3 John is a short letter, it is not short on chiasms. It appears John included a chiasm for both the two main characters, Gaius and Diotrephes. The centers for each chiasm are as opposite from each other as the men themselves are, and John’s thoughts concerning both.
Abbreviated Chiasm
A – GREETINGS (1)
B – I PRAY (2)
C – TESTIMONY & TRUTH (3-4)
D – LOVE BEFORE CHURCH (5-8)
E – DIOTREPHES DOES NOT ACCEPT US (9)
F – WORKS (10a)
F’ – WORDS (10b)
E’ – DIOTREPHES DOES NOT ACCEPT THEM (10c)
D’ – EXPELS FROM CHURCH (10d-11)
C’ – TESTIMONY & TRUTH (12)
B’ – I HOPE (13-14a)
A’ – GREETINGS (14b)
Rearranged Chiasm
A – GREETINGS (1) The Elder: To my dear friend [agapētos] Gaius: I love you in the truth [alētheia].
A’ – GREETINGS (14b) Peace be with you. The friends [philos] send you greetings. Greet the friends [philos] by name [onoma].
- No linguistic connection, but it is obvious both are salutations even if A’ is at the end.
B – I PRAY (2) Dear friend [agapētos], I pray that you may prosper [euodoō] in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually (lit., as your soul prospers [euodoō]).
B’ – I HOPE (13) I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. (14a) I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
- Both sections, just like in 2 John, emphasize the close personal relationship John had with the people in this church.
C – TESTIMONY & TRUTH (3) For I was very glad when some brothers [adelphos] came and testified [martureō] to your faithfulness to the truth [alētheia] — how you are walking [peripateō] in the truth [alētheia]. (4) I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking [peripateō] in the truth [alētheia].
C’ – TESTIMONY & TRUTH (12) Demetrius has a good testimony [martureō] from everyone, and from the truth [alētheia] itself. And we also testify [martureō] for him, and you know that our testimony [martureō] is true [alēthēs].
- This section begins the body of the letter and the linguistic connections.
D – LOVE BEFORE CHURCH (5) Dear friend [agapētos], you are showing faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers [adelphos], especially when they are strangers. (6) They have testified [martureō] to your love in front of the church [ekklēsia]. You will do well [kalōs] to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, (7) since they set out for the sake of the Name [onoma], accepting [lambanō] nothing from pagans. (8) Therefore, we ought to support [hupolambanō] such men so that we can be coworkers with the truth [alētheia].
D’ – EXPELS FROM CHURCH (10c) but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church [ekklēsia]. (11) Dear friend [agapētos], do not imitate what is evil [kakos], but what is good [agathos]. The one who does good [agathopoieō] is of God; the one who does evil [kakopoieō] has not seen God.
- There are several linguistic connections as the bold text shows.
- There is also a connection through synonyms: well [kalōs] and good [agathos].
- There is also a connection through antonyms: well [kalōs] and evil [kakos].
E – DIOTREPHES DOES NOT ACCEPT US (9) I wrote something to the church [ekklēsia], but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive [epidechomai] us.
E’ – DIOTREPHES DOES NOT ACCEPT THEM (10c) And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome [epidechomai] the brothers [adelphos] himself,
- Sometimes English translations do not see the linguistic connection; but as you can see both receive and welcome are the same Greek word.
- E – church; E’ has – brothers.
F – WORKS (10a) This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing,
F’ – WORDS (10b) slandering us with malicious words.
- Where there are no linguistic connections between these last two sections, there is a “What’s More” connection. “The works (Diotrephes) is doing” is “slandering us with malicious words.”
- If this seems like an odd center for the chiasm, it shouldn’t for two reasons:
- 1) It is about Diotrephes:
- It is really quite intriguing because of the balance it offers. John is known as “The Apostles of Love.” And yet the center of this small letter is a warning that John is coming and will deal personally with Diotrephes.
Extended Chiasm
A – GREETINGS (1) The Elder: To my dear friend [agapētos] Gaius: I love you in the truth [alētheia].
B – I PRAY (2) Dear friend [agapētos], I pray that you may prosper [euodoō] in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually (lit., as your soul prospers [euodoō]).
C – TESTIMONY & TRUTH (3) For I was very glad when some brothers [adelphos] came and testified [martureō] to your faithfulness to the truth [alētheia] — how you are walking [peripateō] in the truth [alētheia]. (4) I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking [peripateō] in the truth [alētheia].
D – LOVE BEFORE CHURCH (5) Dear friend [agapētos], you are showing faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers [adelphos], especially when they are strangers. (6) They have testified [martureō] to your love in front of the church [ekklēsia]. You will do well [kalōs] to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, (7) since they set out for the sake of the Name [onoma], accepting [lambanō] nothing from pagans. (8) Therefore, we ought to support [hupolambanō] such men so that we can be coworkers with the truth [alētheia].
E – DIOTREPHES DOES NOT ACCEPT US (9) I wrote something to the church [ekklēsia], but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive [epidechomai] us.
F – WORKS OF DIOTREPHES (10a) This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing,
F’ – WORDS DIOTREPHES (10b) slandering us with malicious words.
E’ – DIOTREPHES DOES NOT ACCEPT THEM (10c) And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome [epidechomai] the brothers [adelphos] himself,
D’ – EXPELS FROM CHURCH (10c) but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church [ekklēsia]. (11) Dear friend [agapētos], do not imitate what is evil [kakos], but what is good [agathos]. The one who does good [agathopoieō] is of God; the one who does evil [kakopoieō] has not seen God.
C’ – TESTIMONY & TRUTH (12) Demetrius has a good testimony [martureō] from everyone, and from the truth [alētheia] itself. And we also testify [martureō] for him, and you know that our testimony [martureō] is true [alēthēs].
B’ – I HOPE (13) I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. (14a) I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
A’ – GREETINGS (14b) Peace be with you. The friends [philos] send you greetings. Greet the friends [philos] by name [onoma].
3 John 1:1-8 – Gaius Chiasm
A – TRUTH (1) The Elder: To my dear friend [agapētos] Gaius: I love you in the truth [alētheia].
B – FINANCIALLY PROSPER (2) Dear friend [agapētos], I pray that you may prosper [euodoō] in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually [lit as your soul prospers [euodoō]].
C – TESTIFIED TO TRUTH (3a) For I was very glad when some brothers [adelphos] came and testified [martureō] to your faithfulness to the truth [alētheia] —
D – WALKING IN TRUTH (3b) how you are walking [peripateō] in the truth [alētheia].
E – (4a) I have no greater joy than this:
D’ – WALKING IN TRUTH (4b) to hear that my children are walking [peripateō] in the truth [alētheia].
C’ – TESTIFIED TO LOVE (5) Dear friend [agapētos], you are showing faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers [adelphos], especially when they are strangers. (6a) They have testified [martureō] to your love in front of the church [ekklēsia].
B’ – FINANCIALLY SUPPORT (6b) You will do well [kalōs] to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, (7) since they set out for the sake of the Name [onoma], accepting nothing from pagans.
A’ –TRUTH (8) Therefore, we ought to support such men so that we can be coworkers with the truth [alētheia].
B & B’ show how chiasms can help us interpret. In B, John prays Gaius will prosper “in every way” (i.e., financially included) and “in good health physically.” In B’ John tells Gaius he will do well in sending these brothers on their way. This would include financial support. So John prays for Gaius to prosper financially because he knows Gaius will use his wealth to support the gospel.
3 John 1:3b-4 – Gaius Chiasm
A – (3b) how you are walking in the truth [alētheia].
B – (4) I have no greater joy than this:
A’ – to hear that my children are walking in the truth [alētheia].
- A – you; A’ – my children
- B – truth; B’ – truth
3 John 1:9-10 – Diotrephes Chiasm
A – (9) I wrote something to the church [ekklēsia],
B – but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them,
C – does not receive [epidechomai] us.
D – (10a) This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing,
D’ – slandering us with malicious words.
C’ – (10b) And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome [epidechomai] the brothers [adelphos] himself,
B’ – but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them
A’ – from the church [ekklēsia].
3 John 1:12 – Demetrius Parallelism
A – Demetrius has a good testimony [martureō] from everyone,
B – and from the truth [alētheia] itself.
A’ – And we also testify [martureō] for him, and you know that our testimony [martureō]
B’ – is true [alēthēs].
3 John 1:7-14
A – THE NAME (6b) You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, (7) since they set out for the sake of the Name [onoma], accepting nothing from pagans.
B – WITH THE TRUTH (8) Therefore, we ought to support such men so that we can be coworkers with the truth [alētheia].
C – THE CHURCH (9) I wrote something to the church [ekklēsia],
D – but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive [epidechomai] us.
E – (10a) This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words.
D’ – (10b) And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome [epidechomai] the brothers [adelphos] himself, but he even stops those who want to do so
C’ – THE CHURCH and expels them from the church [ekklēsia].
B’ – WITH TRUTH (11) Dear friend [agapētos], do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. (12) Demetrius has a good testimony [martureō] from everyone, and from the truth [alētheia] itself. And we also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true [alēthēs]..
A’ – BY NAME (13) I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. (14) I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends [philos] by name [onoma].
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