How does 3 John 1:11 relate to the concept of divine approval? Reference Text “Beloved, 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.” (3 John 1:11) Immediate Literary Setting 3 John is a brief, personal letter in which the apostle commends Gaius for faithful hospitality, warns him about Diotrephes’ self-exalting behavior, and praises Demetrius as a trustworthy example. Verse 11 serves as the climactic exhortation: choose which model to copy. It functions as the book’s ethical hinge, turning private counsel into universal principle. Canonical Echoes of Divine Approval Old Testament—Genesis 4:4-5; Psalm 1:6; Isaiah 66:2 show Yahweh’s favor resting on the righteous. Gospels—Matthew 3:17; 17:5 reveal the Father’s voiced approval of Jesus, establishing the pattern. Epistles—1 John 3:10; Titus 2:14 tie righteous deeds to God-born identity. Apocalypse—Revelation 2-3 repeatedly contrasts “overcomers” who gain commendation with those Jesus “is against.” The Theological Logic a. Source Principle: Good conduct proceeds from regeneration (John 3:3; Ephesians 2:10). b. Evidence Principle: Works are the visible verification of invisible faith (James 2:18, 26). c. Relational Principle: Divine approval is not earned but expressed toward those already “of God” (Romans 5:1). Imitation as a Biblical Pattern • Imitate God (Ephesians 5:1). • Imitate Christ (1 Peter 2:21). • Imitate apostolic examples (1 Corinthians 11:1). 3 John 1:11 adds that imitation is also discerning—avoiding corrupt role models (Proverbs 22:24-25). Positive and Negative Case Studies in 3 John Gaius & Demetrius—hospitality, truth, love = divine endorsement. Diotrephes—pride, slander, refusal of brothers = divine disapproval. Verse 11 distills that contrast into one test: Which behavior mirrors God’s character? Divine Approval and “Seeing God” Biblically, “seeing” God involves: • Spiritual perception (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). • Moral purification (Matthew 5:8). Absence of good works signals blindness to God’s moral glory (2 Corinthians 4:4). Harmonization with Salvation by Grace 3 John 1:11 does not teach works-salvation. Instead: Grace → Regeneration → Good Works → Divine Approval / Assurance. This compliments Paul’s order in Ephesians 2:8-10. Pastoral and Missional Implications Church leaders must: • Model the “good” that reflects God. • Publicly commend faithful examples (Philippians 2:29). • Lovingly confront Diotrephes-like behavior to safeguard divine approval within the community. Personal Application Checklist 1. Identify Christ-centered mentors. 2. Evaluate actions by agathos/kakos, not convenience. 3. Pursue works that display God’s nature—truth, generosity, humility. 4. Seek assurance in the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), the empirical sign of God’s approval. Summary 3 John 1:11 teaches that divine approval is discerned and displayed through the imitation of objective good. Good actions flow from a regenerated source and verify genuine sight of God, while evil actions betray the absence of true knowledge of Him. The verse integrates doctrinal, ethical, communal, and apologetic strands into one simple imperative: imitate good, because God’s approval is inseparable from God’s nature. |
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