Albert Barnes Commentary 3 John 1

The elder. (See the notes on 2 John 1:1).

Unto the well-beloved Gaius. Three persons of this name are elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament: Gaius, whom Paul in Romans 16:23 calls "his host," and whom he says (1 Corinthians 1:15) he baptized, residing at Corinth (see the notes on Romans 16:23); Gaius of Macedonia, one of Paul's companions in travel, who was arrested by an excited mob at Ephesus (Acts 19:29); and Gaius of Derbe, who went with Paul and Timothy into Asia (Acts 20:4).

Whether any of these persons is referred to here cannot be determined with certainty. If it were any of them, it was probably the last-mentioned—Gaius of Derbe. There is no objection to the supposition that he was the one, unless it is from the fact that this epistle was probably written many years after the transaction mentioned in Acts 20:4, and the probability that Gaius might not have lived so long.

The name was not uncommon, and it cannot be determined now who he was or where he lived. Whether he had any office in the church is unknown, but he seems to have been a man of wealth and influence. The word translated "well-beloved" means simply beloved. This shows that he was a personal friend of the writer of this epistle.

Whom I love in the truth. (Marginal note: "or truly.") (See the notes on 2 John 1:1).

Beloved, I wish above all things. The margin reads pray. The word used here commonly means to pray in the New Testament, but it is also employed to express a strong and earnest desire for anything (Acts 27:29; Romans 9:3; 2 Corinthians 13:9).

This is probably all that is implied here. The phrase rendered "above all things"—peri pantōn—would be more correctly rendered here "concerning, or in respect to all things;" and the idea is that John wished earnestly that in all respects he might have the same kind of prosperity which his soul had.

The common translation "above all things" would seem to mean that John valued health and outward prosperity more than he did anything else; that he wished that more than his usefulness or salvation. This cannot be the meaning and is not demanded by the proper interpretation of the original. See this shown by Locke, in that passage.

The sense is, "In every respect, I wish that it may go as well with you as it does with your soul; that in your worldly prosperity, your comfort, and your bodily health, you may be as prosperous as you are in your religion." This is the reverse of the wish which we are commonly constrained to express for our friends; for such is usually the comparative lack of prosperity and advancement in their spiritual interests, that it is an expression of benevolence to desire that they might prosper in that respect as much as they do in others.

That you may prosper, euodousthai. This word occurs in the New Testament only in the following places: Romans 1:10, rendered have a prosperous journey; 1 Corinthians 16:2, rendered has prospered; and in the passage before us. It means, properly, to lead in a good way; to prosper one's journey; and then to make prosperous; to give success to; to be prospered. It would apply here to any plan or purpose entertained. It would include success in business, happiness in domestic relations, or prosperity in any of the engagements and transactions in which a Christian might lawfully engage. It shows that it is right to wish that our friends may have success in the works of their hands and their plans of life.

And be in health. To enjoy bodily health. It is not necessary to suppose, in order to correctly interpret this, that Gaius was at that time suffering from bodily indisposition, though perhaps it is most natural to suppose that, as John makes the wish for his health so prominent. But it is common, in all circumstances, to wish for the health and prosperity of our friends; and it is as proper as it is common, if we do not give that a degree of prominence above the welfare of the soul.

Even as your soul prospers. John had learned, it would seem, from the "brethren" who had come to him (3 John 1:3), that Gaius was living as was fitting for a Christian; that he was advancing in the knowledge of the truth, and was exemplary in the duties of the Christian life; and he prays that in all other respects he might be prospered as much as he was in that. It is not very common that a man is more prospered in his spiritual interests than he is in his other interests, or that we can, in our wishes for the welfare of our friends, make the prosperity of the soul, and the practice and enjoyment of religion, the standard of our wishes in regard to other things. It argues a high state of piety when we can, as the expression of our highest desire for the welfare of our friends, express the hope that they may be in all respects as much prospered as they are in their spiritual concerns.

For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came. Who these were is not certainly known. They may have been members of the same church with Gaius, who, for some reason, had visited the writer of this epistle. Another possibility is that they were the "brethren" who had gone from him with a letter of commendation to the church (1 John 1:9). These brethren had been rejected by the church through the influence of Diotrephes and, after being hospitably entertained by Gaius, had returned to the writer of this epistle. In that case, they would of course bear honourable testimony to the kindness they had received from Gaius and to his Christian character.

And testified of the truth that is in thee. This means you adhere steadfastly to the truth, even though errors abound and many false teachers are in the world.

Even as thou walkest in the truth. This means you live in accordance with the truth. The writer had made the same remark about the children of Cyria, to whom the second epistle was directed (see 2 John 1:4).

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. That is to say, they adhere steadfastly to the truth and live in accordance with it.

This is the kind of language an aged apostle would use when speaking of those who had been converted by his instrumentality, and who looked up to him as a father. We may, therefore, infer that Gaius had been converted under the ministry of John and that he was probably a much younger man than John was.

John, the aged apostle, says that he had no higher happiness than to learn, concerning those who regarded him as their spiritual father, that they were steadfast in their adherence to the doctrines of religion. The same thing may be said now:

1. Of all the ministers of the gospel, that their highest comfort is found in the fact that those to whom they minister, whether still under their care or removed from them, persevere in a steadfast attachment to the true doctrines of religion and live accordingly; and
2. Of all Christian parents concerning their own children. The highest joy that a Christian parent can have is to know that his children, whether at home or abroad, adhere to the truths of religion and live in accordance with the requirements of the gospel of Christ. If a child wished to confer the highest possible happiness on his parents when with them, it would be by becoming a decided Christian. If, when abroad, in foreign lands or his own, he wished to convey intelligence to them that would most thrill their hearts with joy, it would be to announce to them that he had given his heart to God.

There is no joy in a family like that when children are converted. There is no news that comes from abroad that diffuses so much happiness through the domestic circle as the intelligence that a child is truly converted to the Savior. There is nothing that would give more peace to the dying pillow of the Christian parent, than to be able to leave the world with the assurance that his children would always walk in truth.

Beloved, you do faithfully. In the previous verses, the writer had commended Gaius for his commitment to truth and his general uprightness in his Christian life. He now speaks more specifically of his acts of generous hospitality and says that he had fully, in that respect, done his duty as a Christian.

Whatever you do. This applies to all your dealings with them and all your conduct toward them. The specific thing that led to this remark was his hospitality, but the testimony regarding his general conduct was such as to justify this commendation.

To the brethren. This probably refers to Christians who were well known to him—perhaps Christians in his own church.

And to strangers. This refers to those who had gone to the church where he was a member, carrying a letter of commendation from John. See Romans 12:13 and Hebrews 13:2.