The Open Door

3 John 1:1-8

At just 25 verses, 3 John is one of the New Testament’s shortest books. It’s a warm, personal note from an aging apostle to a beloved friend named Gaius. And its subject is important—but something often overlooked: hospitality.

In the first century, traveling teachers and missionaries depended on the kindness of local believers for housing and meals as they moved from city to city. Inns were often unsafe, expensive, or disreputable, so turning to the church was a better option for a missionary arriving in a strange town. Gaius had made it a practice to open his home to these strangers because they came in the name of Christ.

John wrote to thank him and then said something noteworthy: When Gaius welcomed these travelers, he became a “fellow [worker] with the truth” (v. 8). His spare room and his table became a ministry. The work he did was as much a part of the church’s mission as any sermon.

Hospitality doesn’t often feel important in the moment. It’s a relatively small gesture: a meal, a bed, a courteous welcome. But Scripture encourages the practice (Rom. 12:13), as this is exactly how the love of Christ makes its way into the world—through people who open their life and heart to others.

Bible in One Year: John 1-3