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"I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face."

Text: 3 John 14

CONCLUSION OF ANOTHER SHORT LETTER

The Apostle John once again comes to the end of another short letter. We can fully understand how the Apostle John felt as he drew his letter to a close.

“I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink;
but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.
Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.”
3 John 13-14

1. “I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink”

a) John of course would have many deep things to share with Gaius.

b) But he preferred not to spend too much time in writing.

2. “But I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face”

a) The reason for not writing more was obvious.

b) John would be seeing Gaius soon.

c) Face to face communication would be far better (obviously!).

d) John’s coming to see Gaius was also probably related to his coming to the church to deal with Diotrephes.

3. Bidding farewell

a) “Peace to you”

i) This greeting was particularly timely.

ii) Conflict in the Church involving Diotrephes was inevitable.

iii) Peace would be a welcome blessing.

b) “Our friends greet you”

i) Gaius knew the friends of the Apostle John.

ii) They had a mutual group of friends.

iii) These friends had sent greetings through John.

c) “Greet the friends by name”

i) This would be a reference to the friends in the church of Gaius.

ii) Each friend was to be greeted personally… by name.

iii) Demetrius would be considered a friend.

iv) Diotrephes would not be considered a friend!