John was overseeing the churches in the Ephesus area of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), here early Christian communities faced challenges related to leadership, hospitality, and internal conflicts. Here’s the specific context in which it was written:

1. Issues of Leadership and Authority:
   • Conflict with Diotrephes: A central issue in 3rd John is the problematic behavior of Diotrephes, a church leader who was refusing to recognize John’s authority and rejecting his instructions. Diotrephes was acting with arrogance, seeking to dominate the church by rejecting other leaders, expelling members, and refusing to welcome traveling teachers. This conflict highlights the struggles with leadership and authority in the early church, where some leaders were more concerned with personal power than serving the community.
2. The Role of Hospitality in the Early Church:
   • Support for Itinerant Missionaries: Hospitality was crucial in the early church, as traveling teachers and missionaries depended on the support of local believers for food, lodging, and other needs. 3rd John addresses the importance of this support, contrasting Gaius’s faithful hospitality with Diotrephes’ refusal to welcome these workers. The letter was written in a time when such hospitality was not just a courtesy but an essential part of the church’s mission.
3. Maintaining the Integrity of Christian Fellowship:
   • Strengthening Community Bonds: The early Christian church was often composed of small house churches that were vulnerable to both external persecution and internal conflicts. 3rd John emphasizes maintaining strong, supportive community bonds, encouraging believers to uphold truth, love, and mutual support as defining aspects of Christian fellowship.
4. Conflict and Division within the Church:
   • Tension Among Leaders: The letter reflects a broader tension within the early Christian movement, where different leaders sometimes clashed over authority, doctrine, and practice. John’s rebuke of Diotrephes and commendation of Demetrius reflect the challenges of maintaining unity and sound leadership in a growing and diverse church.
5. Personal Connections and Pastoral Care:
   • John’s Relationship with Gaius: The letter reveals John’s deep personal connection with Gaius, showing that leadership in the early church was often relational and pastoral. John’s desire to visit Gaius in person demonstrates his hands-on approach to addressing issues within the church and his commitment to mentoring and guiding the next generation of Christian leaders.