The Missing Epistle of John
Johannine Literature Seminar

The Third Epistle of John addresses a disagreement over the way in which travelling Christian workers should be received. The Elder argues that they should be welcomed, supported and sent on their way in a manner that befits God’s service. A certain Diotrephes, by contrast, teaches that they should not be welcomed. The Elder remarks, in passing, that he has written something to the church about this matter (3 John 9). The letter in question has, however, long since been lost.
The Didache is a multi-layered document created by different authors/editors at different times. One of the practical questions it addresses is the way in which visitors should be treated. Curiously, however, the text offers closely related but contrasting instructions on four points: the length of stay (two days maximum // three days maximum); whether money may be asked for (never // under certain circumstances); whether the visitor may be allowed to settle (absolutely not // under certain circumstances); and what provision should be made for their onward journey (only sufficient bread to reach the next lodging // as much assistance as the community is able to provide). A similarly stereoscopic arrangement occurs in the Didache’s instructions concerning Eucharistic praying: Didache 9 and Didache 10 are remarkably similar, but Didache 10 allows freedom to prophets in prayer.
This paper explores the possibility that the instructions in ‘The Original Didache’ served as the authority behind Diotrephes’ rejection of travelling Christian workers, and that the more generous ‘Revised Instructions’ (inserted into the Didache at a later date) belong to the written response to which 3 John 9 refers: ‘The Missing Epistle of John’.
Downloadable handout Ideally, print A4 in colour, and then convert into an eight page booklet (A3 folded).
For a detailed presentation of the compositional history of the Didache see Alan J P Garrow, The Gospel of Matthew's Dependence on the Didache, (LNTS 254, Bloomsbury, 2004) pp. 13-160

For more on the Didache and the Apostolic Decree BNTC 2017

This site has further information about the Didache.