Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on 3 John 1-8:
We
therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth (3
John 8).
In
his third epistle, the apostle John addresses Gaius (v. 1), likely a faithful
minister in the church, commending and exhorting him to continue to receive and
help orthodox teachers who sought his hospitality and support. In so doing, John
says, “we might be fellowhelpers in the truth.”
Behind
the compound noun “fellowhelpers” is the Greek plural noun synergoi. We
might say “synergists.” This term appears at least twelve other times in the NT,
all else in Paul’s writings. Compare:
In
Romans 16:3 Paul refers to Priscilla and Aquila as “my helpers in Christ
Jesus.” They took him into their home when he first came to Corinth (see Acts
18:1-3).
He
uses the same term to describe a man name Urbanus as his helper in Romans 16:9
and Timothy in Romans 16:21.
In
1 Corinthians 3:9 he says to the Corinthian church, “For we are labourers
together with God…”
In
2 Corinthians 1:24 he refers to himself and those who ministered with him
before the Corinthians as “helpers of your joy.”
In
2 Corinthians 8:23 he refers to Titus as “my partner [koinōnos] and
helper [synergos] concerning you.”
In
Philippians 2:25 he refers to Ephaphroditus as his “companion in labour.”
In
Phillippians 4:3 he makes mention of men like the “true yokefellow” and Clement
who would try to broker peace between two women locked in dispute [Euodia and
Synteche] as “my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”
In
Colossians 4:10-11 he commends Aristarchus, Marcus, and Justus as “fellowworkers
unto the kingdom of God.”
In
1 Thessalonians 3:2 he refers to Timothy as “our fellowlabourer in the gospel”
(cf. Romans 16:21).
In
Philemon 1:1 he refers to Philemon as “our dearly beloved, and fellow
labourer.”
Later
in the same letter, he names four men, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Lucas as
“my fellowlabourers” (Philemon 1:24).
Here
in 3 John, the apostle John takes up the same term and uses it, as did Paul, to
refer to those who were willing to serve the Lord within his church, alongside
of others, as helpers and laborers.
It
does not refer to synergy in salvation. Salvation is monergistic (an act of God
alone), not synergistic. As Jonah said in the belly of the great fish,
“Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). But we do believe in synergy in
ministry.
The
Lord is pleased to use those who will labor in synergy with the Lord and with one
another to build his kingdom.
How
do we do that?
Through
faithful presence and participation.
Through
faithful giving.
Through
faithful hospitality.
Through
faithful praying.
Through
faithful interest in the cause of Christ and his kingdom.
So,
let it be said of us that we too are “fellowhelpers” to the truth.
Grace
and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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