Being of God and Seeing God. The Main Theological Message of the Third Epistle of John
Mariusz Rosik
Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1943-8649
Kalina Wojciechowska
Christian Academy of Theology in Warsaw , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0028-6905
Abstract
The Third Epistle of John is one of the least commented on writings of the New Testament. Based on the structure of the letter proposed in the article, the authors try to bring out its theological message. It oscillates around the ideas of ‘being of God’ and ‘seeing God’, which in practice means love towards one’s neighbour, love expressed through welcoming and supporting itinerant teachers. The analyses carried out in the article lead to accept the thesis that the Third Epistle of John was written shortly before the Second Epistle of John. The discussed formal and structural similarities between the Second and Third Epistles of John allow for the justification of this thesis. Many indications suggest that in the Second Epistle of John, there are more theoretical references to the practical themes addressed in the Third Epistle of John, which attests that the chronological order is different from the canonical one.
Keywords:
Third Epistle of John, theology of 3 John, structure of 3 John, being of God, seeing GodReferences
Akin, D.L., „Four Men and Their Reputations. 3 John 1–14”, Midwestern Journal of Theology 5/1 (2006) 3–10.
Akin, D.L., Exalting Jesus in 1, 2, 3 John (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary; Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group 2014) [ePUB].
Brown, R.E., The Epistles of John. A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (The Anchor Bible 30; Garden City, NY: Doubleday 1982).
Bultmann, R.K., The Johannine Epistles (Hermeneia; Minneapolis, MN: Fortress 1973).
Campbell, C.R., 1, 2 & 3 John (The Story of God. Bible Commentary 19; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan 2017).
Czerski, J., Ewangelia i Listy św. Jana. Wprowadzenie literackie, historyczne i teologiczne (Opolska Biblioteka Teologiczna 156; Opole: Redakcja Wydawnictw Wydziału Teologicznego Uniwersytetu Opolskiego 2016).
Davids, P.H. – Moo, D.J. – Yarbrough, R.W., 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan 2002) [ePUB 2016].
Euzebiusz z Cezarei, Historia kościelna. Tekst polski i grecki (tłum. A. Caba; red. H. Pietras) (Kraków: Wydawnictwo WAM 2013).
Gądecki, S., Wstęp do pism Janowych (Gniezno: Gaudentinum 1996).
Harris III, W.H., 1, 2, 3 John – Comfort and Counsel for a Church in Crisis (Dallas, TX: Biblical Studies 2003).
Heil, J.P., 1–3 John. Worship by Loving God and One Another to Live Eternally (Cambridge: SCM 2015) [ePUB]. (Crossref)
Hill, C.E., The Johannine Corpus in the Early Church (New York: Oxford University Press 2004). (Crossref)
Ireneusz z Lyonu, Adversus Haereses (tłum. J. Brylowski) (Kraków: Bernardinum 2018).
Jackman, D., Listy Jana Apostoła (Biblia Dzisiaj; Katowice: Credo 2002).
Jobes, K.H., 1, 2 & 3 John (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan 2014) [ePUB 2016].
Johnson, L.T., The Writings of the New Testament. An Interpretation (London: SCM Press 1999).
Klauck, H.-J., Lettere di Giovanni (tłum. C. Esposto) (Commentario Paideia: Nuovo Testamento 22; Brescia: Paideia 2013).
Lambe, C., 1–3 John and Revelation (New Testament Commentary; La Vergne, TN: Covenant Books 2021) [ePUB].
Lieu, J., I, II, III John. A Commentary (The New Testament Library; Louisville, KY – London: Westminster John Knox 2008).
Lieu, J., The Second and the Third Epistles: History and Background (Bloomsbury Academic Collections: Biblical Studies; London – New Delhi – New York – Sydney: Bloomsbury 2015).
Loader, W., The Johannine Epistles (Epworth Commentaries; London: Epworth 1992).
Lockett, D.R., Letters for the Church. Reading James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John as Canon (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic 2021) [ePUB].
Lorencin, I., „Hospitality Versus Patronage: an Investigation of Social Dynamics in the Third Epistle of John”, Andrews University Seminary Studies 46/ 2 (2008) 165–174.
Lorencin, I., Hospitality Versus Patronage: an Investigation of Social Dynamics in the Third Epistle of John (Dys. 87, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary; Berrien Springs, MI 2007).
MacArthur, J., 1–3 John (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary; Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers 2007) [ePUB].
Marshall, I.H., The Epistles of John (The New International Commentary on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1978).
Mędala, S., „Gościnność chrześcijańska”, Ewangelia św. Jana, Listy Powszechne, Apokalipsa (red. R. Bartnicki
et al.) (Wprowadzenie w myśl i wezwanie ksiąg biblijnych 10; Warszawa: ATK 1992) 97–101.
Mendez, H., „Did the Johannine Community Exist?”, Journal for the Study of the New Testament 42/3 (2020) 350–374. (Crossref)
Olsson, B., „Structural Analyses in Handbooks for Translators”, The Bible Translator 37/1 (1986) 117–127. (Crossref)
van Oudtshoorn, A., „Every Letter Tells a Story: Mission and Unity at Odds in the Local Church. A Social-Normative Analysis of 3 John”, Pacifica Australasian Theological Studies 24/3 (2011) 267–282, https://doi.org/10.1177/1030570X1102400304. (Crossref)
Painter, J. – McKnight, S., Epistles of John and Jude (Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 2021) [ePUB].
Parsenios, G., First, Second and Third John (Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2014).
Pate, C.M., The Writings of John. A Survey of the Gospel, Epistles and Apocalypse (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic 2011) [ePUB].
Podeszwa, P. „L’accoglienza trasforma da forestiero a ospite. Una riflessione alla luce della Terza Lettera di Giovanni”, Poznańskie Studia Teologiczne 43 (2023) 35–49. (Crossref)
Podeszwa, P., „Gościnność wobec «obcych braci» w świetle 3 J”, Biblica et Patristica Thoruniensia 9/2 (2016) 71–85. (Crossref)
Pytel, J., „Nowotestamentowa terminologia gościnności”, Ruch Biblijny i Liturgiczny 34/3 (1981) 162–165. du Rand, J.A., „The Structure of 3 John”, Neotestamentica 13/1 (1979) 121–131. (Crossref)
Schnelle, U., „Die Reihenfolge der johanneischen Schriften”, New Testament Studies 57/1 (2011) 91–113. (Crossref)
Seremet, B., Dzieje Apostolskie i listy katolickie (Academica 54; Tarnów: Biblos 2001).
Sikora, A.R., „«Widzenie» Boga w Listach św. Jana”, Verbum Vitae 16 (2009) 183–198. (Crossref)
Smalley, S.S., 1, 2, 3 John (Word Biblical Commentary 51; Waco, TX: Word Book 1984).
Stott, J.R.W., The Letters of John (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 19; Nottingham: InterVarsity 2009) [ePUB].
Strecker, G., The Johannine Letters. A Commentary on 1, 2 and 3 John (Hermeneia; Minneapolis, MN: Fortress 1996).
Strecker, G., Theology of the New Testament (New York – Berlin: De Gruyter 2000). (Crossref)
Watson, D.F., „A Rhetorical Analysis of 3 John: A Study in Epistolary Rhetoric”, Catholic Biblical Quarterly 51/3 (1989) 479–501.
Wilder, T.L., „Teaching Outlines for 1, 2 and 3 John”, Midwestern Journal of Theology 5/1 (2006) 20–26.
Wojciechowska, K. – Rosik, M., „Having the Father and the Son – The Structure, Main Theological Idea and Hermeneutical Principle of the Second Epistle of John”, Biblical Annals 13/1 (2023) 133–161. (Crossref)
Wróbel, M.S., „Trzeci List św. Jana Apostoła”, Komentarz do Listu św. Jakuba Apostoła, 1–2 Listu św. Piotra Apostoła, 1–3 Listu św. Jana Apostoła. Listu św. Judy i Apokalipsy (red. M. Rosik – M. S. Wróbel – H. Langkammer) (Komentarz Teologiczno-Pastoralny do Biblii Tysiąclecia 5; Poznań: Pallotinum 2015).
Yarbrough R.W., 1–3 John (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2008).
Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław
Rev. prof. Mariusz Rosik - an academic teacher in the Pontifical Faculty of Theology and in the University of Wrocław (Breslau), Poland. He keeps courses of Exegesis of the New Testament, Biblical Environment, Jewish History and New Testament Greek. Prof. Rosik has studied in several academic centers: Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław (M.A. in 1993; licentiate in biblical theology, 1996; doctoral degree in biblical theology, 1997), Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (licentiate in Sacred Scripture, 2001), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (one semester in 1998-1999), École Biblique et Archéologique Francaise de Jerusalem (one semester in 1998-1999). During his studies in Israel he paid attention to achieve perfect knowledge of biblical Hebrew and archeology of the Holy Land. Prof. Mariusz Rosik has published more than thirty books and many articles in the field of biblical and Jewish studies. His texts were published in eleven languages. He participates in biblical meetings, conferences and seminars. He is also a member of Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (Cambridge), Polish Biblical Society (Warszawa) and Associazzione degli Ex-alunni del Pontificio Istituto Biblico (Rome).
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1943-8649License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Pursuant to the Act on Copyright and Related Rights of February 4, 1994, the Author of the publication grants to the Publisher of the journal „The Biblical Annals” e a non-exclusive and royalty-free license to use the Work submitted for publication, without time and territorial restrictions in the following fields of use:
a) record the Work and copy it by means of any technique (including printing and electronic recording) on all known data carriers (including IT, electronic and polygraphic), and in all IT systems (in particular those available online);
b) enter the Work into computer memory, disseminate the Work and its copies, as well as market the Work and its copies;
c) publicly perform, replay, display and screen the Work, as well as lend, rent and lease the Work and its copies;
d) make available, market and disseminate the Work and its copies via IT networks, and in particular via the Internet, including the promotion or advertising of the Work, the journal or the Publisher. - The Author shall further grant his/her consent for the Publisher to use and dispose of derivative works.
- The Publisher may sublicense the work.
- Third parties may use the articles and other materials containing the Works, or developed on the basis of the Works in line with the model Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (also referred to as CC BY 4.0).
