Demetrius has received
a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our
testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
THE STUDY:
Demetrius
was obviously one in whom the elder had confidence. He describes him as a good
testimony from everyone. The words are an exaggeration, since Diotrephes’ group
clearly did not share this view. The phrase, containing a perfect passive
participle, suggests a life proven over time.
It is one thing to measure up well
against the expectations of others. But to measure up well against the
objective standard that speaks of the highest kind of character is noteworthy. John
writes, we also speak well of Demetrius. By using we, John speaks for himself
and all those allied with him. Three witnesses vouch for Demetrius—the church (community),
the truth itself, and John. This lines up with the Torah requirement of Deut
19:15.
The elder’s preference for certain
words shows up in this sentence. He uses forms of martyria (witness or testimony) three times, and alētheia (truth) twice. The assertion our testimony is true recalls John 19:35
and 21:24. Words declaring the truth of one’s testimony seem to have become
standard among the churches of that day.[1]
WHAT WE CAN WALK
AWAY WITH ….
- We walk away this morning with the understanding that one’s life is a proven testimony to the truth and can be lined up against those great witnesses of the past. We may not be a Mother Theresa but our life can be measured by the standard she set while serving God.
CONCLUSION:
As a pastor I have had the privilege of
knowing some great pillars of the church. They have been a blessing to me as
well as those churches I have pastored. What I see happening, as time goes on,
is those great pillars have entered in eternity and others have taken their
place. They have been allowed to fill that role in the church because they have
met the objective standard that speaks of the highest kind of character. They
were compared to those saints of old.
I have never set out to be compared
to those great saints of the church, but to be compared and looked at as “ONE”
in my days to come would be a great testimony to the love, mercy, grace, and
power of the Holy Spirit.
My prayer for you today is that you
stay true to the faith. By doing so, one day you will be viewed as that pillar
of the church. Don’t pursue it, LIVE IT! By living it you will be that standard
in which others will be compared to.
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3
John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary
(218). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.
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