The three epistles of John all speak to the Christian life-in a unique way. The dominant theme of 1 John is "Christian assur-ance," but it is a special kind of assurance and it has far more bearing on how we live our lives than the words themselves would indicate. The apostle John works on a practical level. showing that the Christian can be assured of his salvation in that God has brought about fundamental changes in his life. This involves truth, righteousness, and love, and all three of these elements must be present in the life of any true and growing Christian.

Both 2 and 3 John, in some ways, repeat the general message of I John. The immediate problem in each book is that of traveling teachers or missionaries. Hospitality would demand that such be provided for, but sometimes the visiting teacher taught false doctrine. Should he be received or not? Or again, suppose the teacher overstayed his welcome, or asked for money. Should it be given! Behind these questions lay the even greater problem of discerning truth from error and of distinguishing false teachers from true servants of the Lord. The letters of 2 and 3 John deal with these problems and also share other Christian teaching incidentally. In 2 John the author seems to be writing to a local church. In 3 John the letter is written to an elder named Gaius.

Once again, Dr. Boice presents a careful study by discussing theological concepts, cultural implications, and the character of various individuals.