1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. – As an ‘in-this-world’ occupation I was a surgeon for years involved in training medical personnel. I understand well why John writing to Gaius whom He had probably led to belief and trust in Jesus was able to be ‘over-the-moon’ when he had news that one of ‘his children’ was living gloriously for Jesus. I feel that way when I hear news of ‘one of mine’ becoming an excellent doctor or maybe has become a specialist and some are even professors. I’m glad to see ‘my children’ doing well!
5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. – This is what seems to have happened -People left from John’s church area and travelled to Gaius’ church a place from which they would make missionary ventures into the surrounding pagan areas with the gospel. Gaius had done the right thing to aid them. Someone had returned to John, and told the church there what a help Gaius was to the travelling party! Hence John’ exhortations to Gaius as underlined above!
9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. – Sadly we sometimes see people like Diotrephes and they are a disgrace to their God, their Faith and the church! He was into heresy, against Apostolic teaching, inhospitable, self seeking and refusing to obey legitimate authority.
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. – The letters which I received in Ethiopia used to start – Wud Doc ውድ ዶክተር …, in Australia we write Dear…., Three times here John calls Gaius ‘Beloved’. Was that overdoing the ‘dear’ a bit? I think not as a) Gaius was his longtime friend apparently b) he was doing a great work and c) to know that someone is so faithful to a thing which is dear to your heart, calls for closeness and gratitude!
13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. – I’m busy and sorry to be brief but please be patient until I come, soon I hope! Please give my greetings all around please.
Hebrews 13: 1-3 – Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. – (of Christ, the Church)
Prayer: Help me please to love others as myself and be hospitable and helpful,
As I read it! 