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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 3Jn_1:1
1The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
3Jn_1:1 "The elder" The term elder is synonymous with the term "pastor" and "bishop" (cf. Tit_1:5; Tit_1:7; Act_20:17; Act_20:28). See full note in 2Jn_1:1.
▣ "the beloved" This is characteristic of John's letters (cf. 1Jn_2:7; 1Jn_3:2; 1Jn_3:21; 1Jn_4:1; 1Jn_4:7; 1Jn_4:11; 3Jn_1:1-2; 3Jn_1:5; 3Jn_1:11), but is not found as a title for believers in the Gospel or the Revelation.
▣ "Gaius" There has been much discussion as to whether Gaius or Diotrephes is the pastor of this local church. It is hard to make any dogmatic statement from this slight amount of information which is available. Because of 3Jn_1:9, where "the church" and "them" are mentioned, it is possible that Diotrephes was the leader of one house church and Gaius was the leader of another house church which was very close by, but this is pure speculation.
▣ "whom I love in truth" "Love and truth" are found together often in John's letters (cf. 2Jn_1:1-4; 3Jn_1:1; 3Jn_1:3-4; 3Jn_1:8; 3Jn_1:12). Truth can refer to
1. the Holy Spirit (cf. Joh_14:17)
2. Jesus the Son (cf. Joh_8:32; Joh_14:6)
3. the content of the gospel (cf. 1Jn_2:2; 1Jn_3:23)