The contemporary personalities of the present Church: (Chapter-1):
Third John and Second John deal with two sides of the same issue of travelling preachers and also the relationship between the truth and Christian love. In 2-John the author stressed the importance of truth, identifying the false teachers and apostacy, but in 3-John the author deals with specific cases and is more of personal letter.
Gaius the faithful leader of the church: (1-8)
We don’t know much about this man whether he was connected with the other men by this name mentioned in the NT (Acts 19:19, 20:4; 1Cor.1:14; Rom.16:23).
- A Christian by name Gaius is mentioned in Macedonia as a travelling companion of Paul along with Aristarchus (Acts 1:29).
- Another person by name Gaius from Derbe is mentioned as one of Paul’s seven travelling companions who waited for him at Troas (Acts 20:4).
- Another person by name Gaius mentioned, residing in Corinth with others Viz. Crispus and the household of Stephanas who were baptised by Paul (1 Cor.1:14).
- Paul refers Gaius in his final greetings to Rome (Rom.16:23).
The identification is difficult because Gaius was a very common name in the Roman Empire. However there is no reason to suppose that any of these men were the Gaius of 3-John.
Gaius may have been converted through the Apostle John. It seems he was not keeping good physical health, but his spiritual life was good. “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). Physical health is the result of nutrition, exercise, cleanliness, proper rest, and the disciplined order of a balanced life. Spiritual health is the result of similar factors. We must nourish ourselves with the Word. We must keep ourselves clean (2 Cor. 7:1) and avoid the contamination and pollution that is in the world (2 Pet. 1:4; Jam.1:27). We must also keep our physical body in good health because our bodies are the temples of God. We must not allow our bodies to rot or decay unless God allows. A balanced life is a healthy and happy life, a life that honours God. To disciples the Lord Jesus Christ said: “The kingdom of heaven has come near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely you give” (Matt.10:8). The Lord has healed a man’s hand even on Sabbath (Matt.12:9-13). So every believer must care for his physical body so that it would not become a hindrance for the ministry.
- Gaius testimony: (3-4): Gaius was recognized as a man who obeyed the Word of God and walked in truth. Some of the brethren had made several visits to John, and they had joyfully reported that Gaius was keeping good testimony. It is clear that Gaius’s entire life was wrapped up in the truth. True living comes from living truthful lives. Jesus Christ, the truth (Jn. 14:6), is revealed in the Word, which is God’s truth (Jn. 17:17). The Holy Spirit is also truth (1 Jn. 5:6), and He teaches us the truth. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to reveal the Son of God, and then to enable us to obey the will of God and so we walk in truth.
- Gaius’s ministry: (5-8): The Apostle commended Gaius for showing hospitality to the true ministers of the Word. Gaius was an encouragement, not only to the brethren in general, but especially to strangers who came to have fellowship with the church and to minister. In the early church days, people preachers were not welcomed into homes. So they used to bring letters of recommendation from the parent assemblies. For we must understand that Abraham has entertained even angels without knowing (Gen.18:1-5). Gaius not only opened his home, but he also opened his heart and his hand to give financial help to his guests. Our faith must be proved by our works also and our love must be expressed by deeds, not just words (1 Jn. 3:16-18). At the same time one should be cautious that visiting preachers may also bring wrong teaching in our churches as Apostle John warned the elderly lady in in his second letter. So Gaius was not only following the truth but reflecting the truth in his life.
Ex: Many true believers in the assemblies specially in South India invite the new preachers into their homes for lunch or dinner. They make it a habit to never send them off without providing a gift either in cash or in kind. My mother was one such person who would never send any servant of God from our home empty handed. This has really challenged me of my giving to the Lord. It’s a good habit.