Third John is the New Testament letter addressed to Gaius and consisting of one chapter.
The brief letter opens by addressing Gaius, whom the writer calls beloved, and commends his faithfulness and hospitality toward traveling Christian workers. It also criticizes Diotrephes for rejecting the writer’s authority and refusing to welcome other believers. Demetrius is then presented positively near the letter’s conclusion.
Third John is one of the three Johannine letters traditionally associated with John. Its author identifies himself simply as “the elder,” so the letter’s exact authorship is discussed by scholars. The text itself does not call the author the apostle John.
Third John is the shortest New Testament book by word count in many English editions, although exact word totals vary with translation and formatting. Its one-chapter structure is not unique: Second John and Jude also have a single chapter, which is why the reference to Gaius makes the identification precise.