Knowing The Word in 3 John 1, Introduction

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Q: Who is the Elder?

A: The Elder is the author of 3 John, who is also the author of 2 John, who is also the author or 1 John and the Gospel of John as indicated by key similarities of style and structure. The traditional ascription to John the disciple cannot be easily disproved; however, Richard Bauckham offers good evidence in Jesus and the Eyewitnesses that John the Elder is not the same man as John the disciple, the brother of James and son of Zebedee.

Q: Who is Gaius?

A: Gaius is the recipient of the letter. Gaius was a common Roman name. It is unlikely he is the same Gaius associated with Paul. Gaius is well-known to the Elder, but there is no evidence they have met in person or that Gaius and Diotrephes belong to the same church. What is clear is that the Elder regards Gaius as orthodox and a valuable ally.

Prayer: O God almighty, by whom and before whom we all are brethren: grant us so truly to love one another, that evidently and beyond all doubt we may love thee; through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord and brother.

Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894