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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Address and commendation of Gaius:
v. 1. The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
v. 2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
v. 3. For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
v. 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.
The address, or superscription, of the letter is very brief: The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. The apostle here again calls himself simply the elder, although he might have stressed his apostolic authority. He is satisfied with bearing the name which was held by all pastors in those days and had no hierarchical aspirations. He addresses Gaius as a beloved brother. Both being members of Christ through faith, they were united by a most intimate fellowship of love, of which John says that it flows out of faith and out of the truth of God.
The apostle opens his letter with a prayerful wish: Beloved, concerning all things I pray that thou mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul is prospering. This wish shows the genuineness of the apostle's love. He desires that Gaius may prosper, have success in every respect, in all matters pertaining to this world, and that he may always be in good health. He had stood the test of trouble and adversity and was entitled to a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. Of his piety St. John had been informed, and he therefore states that his soul is in a prosperous condition. His willingness to incur the hostility of Diotrephes, to risk the loss of business on account of his stand, and the untiring efforts for the brethren, which even threatened his health, were all sufficient evidence for the genuineness of Christian love that lived in his heart. From the hints here given the situation in the city where Gaius lived was probably the following: Some Christian brethren had gone forth from Ephesus on a missionary tour into the interior. John had given them letters of commendation addressed to the various congregations, in order that these missionaries might be received with due hospitality. Upon their return to Ephesus the brethren reported that Diotrephes had not only spurned their letters, spoken evilly of John, and refused them hospitality, but had also made it very unpleasant for Gaius when the latter performed his Christian duty with cheerful willingness. Hence the acknowledgment of the apostle.
St. John is not sparing with his words of praise: I rejoiced exceedingly when brethren came and bore testimony to thy truth, just as thou livest a life in truth. The apostle was very glad, overjoyed, whenever he received another message of the piety of Gaius. Whenever itinerant brethren came back to Ephesus from the provincial districts, these reports came in, hearing witness to the fact that Gaius was living in the truth, that he not only had accepted the truth of the Gospel by faith, but was also leading a life in conformity with the eternal Truth of God, His holy Word. So deeply is John affected by this evidence of true Christian love that he adds: A greater joy than this I do not have, that I should hear of my children walking in the truth. Having probably been converted through the Gospel-message which John preached, Gaius belonged to his spiritual children, Gal_4:19. Therefore it was a source of great satisfaction, of the very greatest joy and happiness, to the aged apostle to know that the Word of God had such a powerful effect in this case, that Gaius was walking in the paths of truth, in the way of sanctification. To this day it is a source of inexpressible joy and delight to a faithful pastor to see children whom he has baptized and confirmed and probably joined in holy wedlock remaining faithful to their Savior in word and deed.