Answer: The
It says in III John 1:1, "The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth."
Gaius is the Greek form of the Latin name Caius and means "I am glad, rejoice."
From Quiz: III John
Answer: The
It says in II John 1:1, "The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also they that have known the truth."
The truth refers to God's love, and the Gospel story.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: II John
Answer: That
It says in I John 1:1, "That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, of the Word of life."
This verse says, Jesus (aka Word of life) has always existed. Furthermore, the author states that he and the other apostles have seen him and touched him so they know in fact that he is real.
From Quiz: First John
Answer: The word of life
The apostle John is not talking here about a verbal or written word or words that will bring life, but he is actually talking about a person, Jesus himself. In the introduction to the gospel of John (almost certainly written by this same John - although some would disagree) the apostle gives Jesus the metaphorical title "The Word". He goes on to say in John 1:4 that "In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men" (NIV).
Jesus states in John 10:10 that his mission was that he had "come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (NIV). He wasn't just talking about physical life: on several occasions John was one of the disciples who would literally have heard Jesus speaking the "word of life" as he raised the dead. One such instance was when John, James and Peter went with Jesus to the house of Jairus the synagogue ruler, where Jesus brought Jairus' young daughter back to life. See Mark 5:22-43 or Luke 8:40-56 for the full story.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 John
Answer: The elder
He refers to himself as "the elder" in 1st, 2nd and 3rd John. He refers to himself as "the disciple Jesus loved" in the gospel he wrote. John says that readers should walk in the light in his first epistle. Paul calls himself a "teacher of the true faith" in 1 Timothy 2:7.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 3 John
Answer: The Elder
John does not elaborate on what is meant by "The Elder", but it is generally presumed to indicate a role in church leadership. In fact, none of the letters attributed to John even bear his name. The apostle John has, traditionally, been regarded as their author due to a similarity in style with John's gospel.
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 2 & 3 John
Answer: By describing himself as a witness to the life of Jesus
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us." (1 John 1 v. 1-2)
In John's letters, he appears to be countering a false doctrine known as Docetism. This held that Jesus only appeared on Earth in pure spirit form and with no physical body. John, here, is quick to point out that he is not only proclaiming what he has seen but also what he has touched.
The name John is never mentioned anywhere in his three letters. Their traditional attribution to the apostle John comes from this claim to have been an earthly witness of Jesus, and from the similarities in style that they share with John's gospel.
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 1 John
Answer: Knowing his children walk in truth.
It says in III John 1:4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."
"Walking in truth" refers to knowing the Lord and living as He would have one live.
From Quiz: III John
Answer: within us
It says in II John 1:2 "For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever."
He is speaking to people who are already Christians, so, when he says the truth dwells within us he is referring to the Holy Spirit.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: II John
Answer: To forgive us
It says in I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Notice this verse doesn't qualify which sins God will forgive, it just says sins. This is because in God's eyes a sin is a sin.
From Quiz: First John
Answer: Gaius
The letter is addressed to Gaius "whom I love in the truth". The name Gaius is mentioned four other times in the Bible. The name is mentioned twice in Acts, both times as a companion of Paul. Then he is mentioned as a founder of the church in Corinth. The last time he is mentioned, other than in the book of 3rd John, is in the final greetings in Romans 16. Nobody knows if any two of them are the same person.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 3 John
Answer: A church congregation
We have no other record of the situation in which John is writing. It is most probable that there is a mother church with various satellite house churches. The "chosen lady" would therefore refer to the central church and "her children" either to the church members or to the other churches.
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 2 & 3 John
Answer: God is light
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1 v. 5)
John's constant refrain through this first letter is that it's impossible to sin (be in darkness) and truly know God.
Light is also a recurring motif in John's gospel. References include:
"He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." (John 1 v. 8-9)
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." (John 3 v. 19-20)
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8 v. 12)
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 1 John
Answer: strangers
It says in III John 1:5, "Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers."
Many Christians believe it is important to be kind to everyone, not just those people we know or are related to.
From Quiz: III John
Answer: appeasement
The full verse of I John 2:2 says, "and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
What this verse says is that when Jesus died on the cross he took the punishment for everyone's sins. Christians believe he had to do this because there is nothing we could do ourselves to make up for our sins.
From Quiz: First John
Answer: Jesus Christ
In the context here John is talking to his dear children about what takes place if they should happen to sin. He is hoping that as a result of what he is writing in his letter they won't sin, but if they do there is help at hand. The NIV says that that help is "one who speaks to the Father in our defence - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." The Greek word which John uses here for "one who speaks in our defence" is parakletos. This is a comforting word, which, put simply, means someone who comes alongside to help. Surely hearing this would bring a sense of relief to John's readers. They wouldn't want to mess up, but if they did then it wasn't the end of the world because Jesus himself was there to support them!
Maybe as John used the word parakletos in the passage here he remembered Jesus using the same word to describe the Holy Spirit in the last hours before Jesus was arrested and eventually put to death. Jesus was reassuring his disciples that they shouldn't worry about him going away as the Father was going to send the Holy Spirit to be with them in his place. See John 14:16, John 14:26, John 15:16, and John 16:7. These four verses and the verse in 1 John are the only occasions in the New Testament where the word parakletos is used.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 John
Answer: To hear that his children are walking in the truth
This is found in verse four. In verses 2-4 he is telling Gaius that he has great joy when people bring good reports about people and their faith. He then says in verse 4 that he has no greater joy than to hear that his children are walking in the truth.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 3 John
Answer: Walking in the truth
"It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us." (2 John v. 4)
"It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth." (3 John v. 3)
John may be so overwhelmed with joy that he feels compelled to write about it, but it's also a great way, psychologically, to make the subjects more receptive to what you're about to ask of them!
Truth is one of the words used distinctively by John in his gospel, which is one of the reasons for these letters being attributed to him. There we read verses such as:
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1 v. 17)
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8 v. 32)
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. (John 14 v. 6)
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16 v. 13)
"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17 v. 17)
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 2 & 3 John
Answer: Sin
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1 v. 8)
These are words that are now used in the Eucharistic liturgies of many Christian denominations.
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 1 John
Answer: nothing
It says in III John 1:7, "Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles."
The word "Gentiles" refers to everyone who is not Jewish.
From Quiz: III John
Answer: love one another
It says in II John 1:5, "And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another."
John says he did not write a new commandment because in Mark 12:31 Jesus tells the people "Love your neighbor as yourself." And in fact Jesus was quoting from the Old Testament where in Leviticus 19:18 God says "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." (NIV)
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: II John
Answer: truth
This verse is pretty simple, either you know the truth, and therefore anything else is a lie. Christians believe that the Bible is God inspired and therefore infallible, or completely true. This is because God is unable to lie.
From Quiz: First John
Answer: Does the will of God
John wants to remind his readers of the most important commandment given by Moses (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and repeated by Jesus (Mark 12:29-30). This is that one should love the Lord God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength. Everything else in life, John says, doesn't last - in other words "you can't take it with you". In encouraging his readers to love the eternal God and to do his will John is harking back to Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19-21). Here Jesus talks about storing up treasures in heaven where they can't be destroyed or stolen rather than storing them on earth where they can be taken away. Following God and doing his will is the way to store up these treasures in heaven, Jesus says.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 John
Answer: Obeying God's commands
"And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." (2 John v. 5-6)
This is a theme that harks back to John's first letter where, several times, he links love with obedience to God's commands. It is probable that one of his targets was those that distorted the gospel to claim that, if salvation came through faith alone, any behaviour was acceptable. Here, though, it is most likely preparing the ground for the attack he is about to launch on those to whom he is doctrinally opposed.
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 2 & 3 John
Answer: fellowhelpers
It says in III John 1:8, "We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth."
Even when others disagree or go against the truth, many people believe it is important to stand up for the truth.
From Quiz: III John
Answer: that we walk after his commandments
It says in II John 1:6 "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."
John has taken this straight from the words of Jesus in John 14:15, where he says "If you love me, keep my commandments."
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: II John
Answer: no
It says in I John 3:5, "And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin.
The "He" being talked about is Jesus. Christians believe he lived a perfect life.
From Quiz: First John
Answer: Children of God
Throughout the letter John has been addressing his readers as dear children and there is a fatherly feel to his writing. However when he gets to chapter 3 he becomes so overwhelmed by the great love that the Heavenly Father has for all of them that he remembers that he is also a child, a child of God! It almost seems that this fact hits John as if it were a new revelation and he is once again amazed that God the Father loves him so much. He continues in 1 John 3:2 to expand on this topic. He is clearly excited as he says to his readers that now they are children of God, which is wonderful, but just imagine what it's going to be like when Christ returns! They have no idea how amazing it's going to be to see Jesus and to actually become like him.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 John
Answer: Welcome the brothers
He says that Diotrephes will have nothing to do with them and even refuses to welcome the brothers. John says that he even throws those who try to welcome them out of his church.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 3 John
Answer: They do not acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh.
"Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John v. 7)
The name of this heresy is Docetism. Its proponents believed that Jesus only appeared in spiritual form. He, therefore, couldn't have had a physical body and couldn't have died on the cross.
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 2 & 3 John
Answer: Diotrephes
It says in III John 1:9, "I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not."
Diotrephes is a name meaning "nurtured by Jove". He seems to have been a man who was more interested in himself than anything else. (Holman's Illustrated Pocket Bible Dictionary).
From Quiz: III John
Answer: That Jesus came in the flesh
It says in II John 1:7, "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."
Christians believe that all of these things are true but this verse specifically mentions Jesus coming in the flesh.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: II John
Answer: murderer
It says in I John 3:15, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."
From Quiz: First John
Answer: To destroy the devil's work
John has been speaking in the preceding verses about the fact that Jesus, who was sinless, came to take away sin. Anyone who persists in doing right is following God, but John goes on to explain that anyone who persists in doing wrong is not following God but is following the devil. He then states in verse 8 (NIV): "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work". This has echoes of what God said to the devil (who was in the form of a serpent at the time) in the Garden of Eden after he had tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God. In Genesis 3:15 the devil was told, "...he (the woman's offspring) will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Christians believe that this was foretelling Jesus coming to earth and eventually submitting to death on a Roman cross. In doing so he became the perfect sacrifice for sins that was required by God as set out in the laws given to Moses. In being that sacrifice and fulfilling God's law Jesus destroyed the devil's works and his power over humanity. As the law has been fulfilled, in this view it no longer has any power and cannot be used to condemn.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 John
Answer: 14
At 14 verses, 3rd John is the second smallest book in the Bible, with 2nd John being smaller by only 1 verse. John writes only a small letter saying that he has a lot to say but he hopes to see Gaius face to face soon. That can be found in verses 13 and 14. 3rd John is one of only five books in the Bible that are only one chapter long. The others are Obadiah, Philemon, 2nd John and Jude.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 3 John
Answer: Do not welcome them
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him." (2 John v. 10)
This goes against the traditional Christian teaching of practising hospitality, which was inherited from the religion's Jewish roots. It does underline, however, how vital John saw it to protect this church from false doctrine.
From Quiz: Quizzing the New Testament : 2 & 3 John
Answer: "prating against us with malicious words"
It says in III John 1:10, "Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church."
In modern terminology this would be known as slandering. Slandering can destroy a person if other people believe what they are told.
From Quiz: III John
Answer: a full reward
It says in II John 1:8, "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."
Christians believe their reward comes in Heaven where they shall receive jewels for their crowns.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: II John
Answer: love
It says in I John 4:8, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
This is one of the most common themes in the Bible. It is not simply that God does love... but that God is love.
From Quiz: First John
Answer: Love one another
In this letter from John, love, especially God's love, is a major theme. Several times throughout the letter John states that his readers should love each other. As seen in the verse we are discussing, loving each other should be a result of the fact that the readers are loved by God who, according to 1 John 4:16, is love. As a response to the immense love that God has shown them their reaction should be to love each other. This also is a reference back to Jesus in Mark 12:31 where he says that the second most important commandment (after loving God with all you are and have) is to love your neighbour as you love yourself.
From Quiz: BBB Bible Series: 1 John
