You’d think the "shortest" anything would be easy to pin down. But when it comes to the Bible, people argue about this more than you’d expect. Most folks just want a quick answer for a trivia night or a Sunday school quiz. The real answer? It's 3 John.
Technically, if we’re counting the original Greek words, the Third Epistle of John takes the trophy. It’s a tiny letter. Blink and you’ll miss it. It’s roughly 219 words in the original language. That’s shorter than a standard restaurant review or a long-winded text message from your mom.
But wait. There’s a catch.
Why the Shortest Book in the Bible Is a Moving Target
Depending on which translation you’re holding, the "shortest" title might shift slightly between 3 John and 2 John. In the King James Version (KJV), 2 John actually has fewer words than 3 John. However, biblical scholars and linguists almost universally look at the original manuscripts. In the Greek, 3 John is the undisputed lightweight champion.
It’s basically a postcard.
Why does it matter? Honestly, for most people, it doesn't. But for people trying to understand how the early church functioned, these tiny letters are gold mines. They aren't grand theological treatises like Romans. They’re personal. They’re gritty. They deal with real-world drama, ego trips, and hospitality issues.
The Contenders: 2 John vs. 3 John vs. Obadiah
If you’re looking at the Old Testament, the crown goes to Obadiah. It’s only 21 verses. It’s a blistering prophecy against the nation of Edom. It’s short, but it’s heavy.
Then you have Philemon. That’s another one-chapter wonder. Paul wrote it to a slave owner about a runaway named Onesimus. It’s incredibly short, yet it packs a massive punch regarding social status and Christian brotherhood.
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But 3 John stays at the bottom of the word-count list.
What’s actually inside 3 John?
The letter is written by "The Elder." Most scholars, including those like D.A. Carson and Douglas Moo, identify this as John the Apostle in his later years. He’s writing to a guy named Gaius.
The vibe is very "I’m proud of you, but we have a problem."
John is stoked that Gaius is "walking in the truth." He’s being a good host to traveling missionaries. But then John drops the hammer on a guy named Diotrephes. This dude was basically a church bully. He loved being in charge, refused to listen to the apostles, and even kicked people out of the church for being too nice to outsiders.
It's fascinating because it shows that even in the "pure" early church, there was massive ego drama.
The Peculiar Logic of Word Counts
Counting words in the Bible is a headache.
Different languages have different rules. In Hebrew (Old Testament), many words are joined together with prefixes and suffixes. One Hebrew "word" might take five or six English words to translate. This is why scholars prefer the Greek word count for the New Testament.
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- 3 John: ~219 Greek words.
- 2 John: ~245 Greek words.
- Philemon: ~335 Greek words.
- Obadiah: ~440 Hebrew words (but it's the shortest in the OT).
If you’re reading the NIV or the ESV, 3 John usually looks like the shortest because it occupies the least amount of physical space on the page. It’s often tucked away right before Jude and Revelation. Many people skip it entirely because it feels like a footnote to history.
That’s a mistake.
The Impact of a Tiny Letter
You don’t need 50 chapters to change a life.
3 John teaches us about "hospitality" in a way the bigger books don't. In the first century, traveling preachers didn't have Marriotts or Airbnbs. They relied on the kindness of strangers. If people like Gaius didn't open their homes, the message of the gospel would have literally stopped at the city gates.
John says something profound in verse 8: "We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth."
Think about that.
By simply letting someone crash on your couch and giving them a meal, you become a "co-worker" in their mission. You don’t have to be the guy on the stage. You just have to be the guy with the extra bed.
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The Warning Against "Diotrephes Syndrome"
We’ve all met a Diotrephes.
He’s the person who needs to be the center of attention. He’s the one who sees every new idea as a threat to his power. John doesn't mince words about him. He promises that when he shows up, he’s going to call out exactly what this guy is doing.
It’s a reminder that being a leader in a faith community isn't about control. It’s about service.
Reading the Shortest Book in the Bible Tonight
If you’ve never read it, it’ll take you about 90 seconds.
Seriously.
Open up a Bible or a Bible app. Flip to the very end, just past 1 and 2 John. You’ll find a letter that feels incredibly modern. It deals with friendship, church politics, and the simple beauty of doing the right thing when no one is looking.
Actionable Next Steps
- Compare versions: Read 3 John in the Message or the NLT and then look at it in a literal translation like the NASB. Notice how the word count fluctuates but the "shortness" remains.
- Study the context: Look up the "Johannine Epistles" in a study Bible. Understanding that John was likely in Ephesus writing to these small house churches makes the drama with Diotrephes feel much more real.
- Focus on verse 11: "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good." It’s the core of the letter. Simple, short, and hard to actually do.
- Check the Old Testament: Read Obadiah right after. It’ll take you maybe three minutes. You’ll have finished two books of the Bible in under five minutes—a pretty great way to start a reading habit.
There is a certain beauty in brevity. 3 John doesn’t waste your time. It says what needs to be said, deals with the problem at hand, and sends its regards. In a world of endless podcasts and 800-page novels, there’s something refreshing about a book of the Bible that knows when to stop talking.