Some books in the Bible tell long stories. Others are short but still teach big truths. The shortest book in the Bible is short in length, but not in meaning. It reminds us to walk in truth, love one another, and stay humble.
The Shortest Book – 3 John
The shortest book in the Bible is 3 John. It’s in the New Testament, near the back of the Bible. This book has only one chapter and 14 verses. In Greek, it’s just 219 words, making it the shortest by word count.
Though 2 John has fewer verses (13), 3 John has fewer total words, so it's considered the shortest overall.
| Book | Chapter Count | Verse Count | Approx. Word Count (Greek) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 John | 1 | 14 | 219 |
| 2 John | 1 | 13 | 245 |
| Philemon | 1 | 25 | 335 |
| Obadiah | 1 | 21 | 440 |
| Jude | 1 | 25 | 461 |
Who Wrote 3 John?
The book of 3 John was written by John the Apostle, the same John who wrote the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, and Revelation.
“The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” — 3 John 1:1 (KJV)
John calls himself "the elder" and writes to Gaius, a faithful believer who is praised for his truth and kindness.
What Is 3 John About?
Even though it’s just 14 verses, 3 John is packed with messages about:
- Truth
- Hospitality
- Leadership
- Encouragement
- Warnings about pride and bad behavior
1. Walking in Truth
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” — 3 John 1:4
2. Faithful Support of Others
“Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;” — 3 John 1:5
“Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church...” — 3 John 1:6
3. Warning Against Pride
“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.” — 3 John 1:9
4. Imitating Good, Not Evil
“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God...” — 3 John 1:11
5. Commending the Faithful
“Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself...” — 3 John 1:12
Summary of Characters in 3 John
| Name | Role in the Letter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gaius | Recipient | Faithful, generous, kind to others |
| Diotrephes | Trouble-maker | Selfish, proud, rejects authority |
| Demetrius | Good example | Honest, well-respected, lives truthfully |
Why 3 John Matters
Even though it’s small, this book gives big reminders:
- Stay true to God’s Word
- Help others with love and generosity
- Watch out for pride and arrogance
- Follow good examples
“He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” — 3 John 1:11
Other Short Yet Powerful Books
| Book | Key Message | Notable Verse |
|---|---|---|
| 2 John | Truth and love, and warning against deceivers | “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought...” — 2 John 1:8 |
| Jude | Warning against false teachers | “Keep yourselves in the love of God...” — Jude 1:21 |
| Obadiah | God's judgment on Edom | “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee...” — Obadiah 1:3 |
| Philemon | Forgiveness and restoration | “Receive him as myself.” — Philemon 1:17 |
