If we are counting words in the original written language, Third John is the shortest book in the Bible. This entry-level post will describe how this decision was made and it gives some insight into the book of 3 John. What follows is a short Bible study around the whole of 3 John to show new Bible readers how easy it can be to read and understand the Bible.
How to see which book in the Bible is the shortest
The shortest books of the Bible can be defined by the number of words, the number of chapters, or the number of verses. We need to remember that English translations of the Bible are not written in the original language. It is only when we look at the number of words in the original Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament) or original Greek (New Testament), that we can find out which book is the shortest in the entire Bible.
It's usually one of four things — and each one needs a completely different strategy to break through. This 2-minute assessment tells you exactly which pattern is blocking you.
Some of the short books of the Bible are sometimes overlooked, but they play a crucial role in the Bible as a whole. There are important teachings wrapped inside them that can benefit readers today. The Bible itself states that ALL of it is useful for teaching and no part is less valuable than the rest. Do not underestimate the short books of the Bible, for they carry a lot of truth.
The shortest book in the Bible
When using word count as the determining factor, 3 John is the shortest book in the Bible with only 219 Greek words. It’s a one-pager!
This short book in the New Testament of the Bible was written by the Apostle John (John, who was a disciple and friend of Jesus Christ). He also authored the Gospel of John, First and Second John, before writing 3rd John. This Third epistle of John captures John’s words to his friend, Gaius.
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The Bible is not organized in alphabetical order or chronological order. They are organized according to genre (style = history, poetry, prophetic books, and so forth). 3 John is a personal letter.
This brief letter carries powerful messages about Christian life. The epistles (letters) in the New Testament were written to specific individuals or churches, but they still speak to modern audiences as well. The message is still relevant today. Even though this letter uses fewer words, the same core values are evident in this book as in the longer books of the Bible.
If you are wondering where to start reading your Bible, 3 John, the shortest book in the Bible might be a good place to start.
If you are new to the Christian faith, a book like this with fewer verses might be a great place to start. Reading 3 John will lead to interesting questions and due to the small size of the book it won’t feel so overwhelming to get through it all. God’s message comes in a bite-sized format in this short New Testament book.
Let’s take a closer look into the shortest book in the Bible now:
A short Bible study about 3 John
Third John, the shortest letter in the Bible
(Given in the New International Version and divided into 4 parts.)
Opening & greeting:
1 The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Encouragement:
2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
News & update:
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Closing & farewell:
13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
15 Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
The main message of the book in the Bible, 3 John
3 John is a short letter, but it is jam-packed with good things about the Kingdom of God and what it looks like to live as His followers. We can learn the following from studying the Bible Book of 3 John, the shortest book in the Bible.
15 lessons from 3 John, the shortest book in the Bible:
The elder,To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Verse 8: God’s love is shown in this: love your enemies and show hospitality to all.
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.
Verse 9: Clarify and state your side of the story.
So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
Verse 10: It’s okay to say when things are not OK.
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
Verse 11: Encourage other people to do God and love God. If you struggle with sin, see God (seek Him in the Bible, in church, in people, in nature, etc)
Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Verse 12: When you think something good about someone, say it.
I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.
Verse 13: It’s wise to listen more than you speak.
I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Verse 14: It’s good for you to spend time with fellow believers.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
Verse 15: Surround yourself with people who love God. Share peace.
A prayer thanking God for the Bible
Dear Lord, thank You for giving us the Bible as a way to have access to Your thoughts, ways, miracles, and power. I pray that You will fill me with Your Spirit so that I may read and understand. Fill me with Your Spirit of wisdom and udnerstanding so that I may grow and mature in my faith – but more than that, so that my life may witness the power of Your Name. Even though this is the shortest book in the Bible, it sitll holds so much truth and glimpses of Your character and truth. Thank You for it. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Eljoh Hartzer is combining theology and art to nurture faith journeys across generations. She is a Masters-level Practical Theologian with the University of Stellenbosch. She is also a writer and editor in the niche of Christianity and children's content and she illustrates children's books. Eljoh resides in the Swartland area in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
You can follow Eljoh on LinkedIn or Instagram.
