Day 360 Reading Schedule: 3 John 1,

 Jude 1

3 John 1: Encouragement and Warning for Gaius 

[Summary]

The author writes a letter to his beloved Gaius (v. 1). The author not only loves Gaius, but also prays for him and rejoices that he follows the truth (vv. 2-4). The author also praises Gaius for his good deeds and great help to strangers who traveled around the world (vv. 5-8). Now the author changes his tone and criticizes Diotrephes for persecuting strangers who traveled around the world and even expelling those who welcomed them (vv. 9-10). Then he praises a man named Demetrius, who is a good man, as testified by the people, the truth, and the author (vv. 11-12). He concludes the letter by saying that he hopes to see him soon and giving a brief greeting (vv. 13-15).

John writes a letter to his beloved Gaius, praising his good deeds and warning him against evil people. He helped and cooperated with the evangelists, so he became a joy to God and the saints, but there were evil people in the church who persecuted the saints for doing good deeds. John compared the good and the evil and instructed the saints to follow the example of those who do good deeds.

Jude 1: Warning and Exhortation to Heretics 

[Overview]

Jude writes to those who are called, loved, and kept. He originally intended to write about daily doctrine, but due to the circumstances of the church, he decided to criticize those who deny Christ and commit moral corruption (vv. 1-4). The church community of the readers of Jude was suffering from evildoers. Jude cites various examples from the Old Testament to show that punishment will surely come to them. They are the Israelites in the wilderness, the fallen angels, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain and Balaam, etc. (vv. 5-19). After sufficiently mentioning the ungodly, Jude tries to give more constructive teaching. Believers must establish themselves on faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and live a sincere life (vv. 20-23). ​​Finally, he gives thanks to the God of glory (vv. 24-25).

In this chapter, he mentions the characteristics and evil deeds of heretics and reveals that God will ultimately judge the wicked. He also encouraged the saints to build their faith on the foundation of faith while hoping for the righteous judgment that will come with the second coming of Christ.