Given the brevity of the letter, it is difficult to piece together the exact disagreement between these groups. However, this letter offers praise to congregations that support the ongoing work and evangelism of the church by welcoming Christian teachers into their midst.
These itinerant teachers were sent out by certain Christian authorities, but otherwise they were personally unknown to the congregations. These congregations welcomed and supported them, evaluating their teaching and finding it to be true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a key way that Christians live out their faith and help to spread the teachings of Jesus, so that others may come to know the truth about God and Jesus too.
