3 John 1:1 - Exposition

To Gaius the beloved ( γαΐ́ῳ τῷ ἀγαπητῷ ). This is additional reason for thinking that κυρία in the Second Epistle is not a proper name; if it were we should probably have the same formula as we have here, κυρίᾳ τῇ ἐκλεκτῇ . The name Gaius occurs elsewhere in the New Testament four times ( Acts 19:29 ; Acts 20:4 ; Romans 16:23 ; 1 Corinthians 1:14 ); as it was as common in the Roman Empire as John Smith is among ourselves, it would be rash to infer that the Gaius addressed here is the same as any of those mentioned elsewhere. In all probability there are at least four persons of this name in the New Testament. In the opening of this Epistle also we have to remark the characteristic repetition of the word "truth," which occurs four times in the first four verses. Deeds, in which Gaius and Demetrius were rich, not words, of which Diotrephes was so prodigal, are what win the approbation and love of the apostle. The thing which he hates is unreality; the object of his special adoration is "the truth;" "to walk in the truth" is nothing less than to follow in the footsteps of the Lord.