We begin a new book in the Bible today as we study through the scriptures verse by verse. This book is another very small letter written by the apostle John, and although it has a similar theme to the other letters written by John, “truth in love”, this one is addressed to an individual. John wrote in Third John verse one:
The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
In the books of First John and Second John, John the apostle wrote to a group of people. In First John it seems that John wrote to the church at large to whom he considered to be his children. In Second John he wrote to the “elect lady and her children” which seemed to be a smaller group. In today's verse we see that John wrote to an individual named “Gaius”. This one named Gaius is mentioned several other times in the scriptures and was a companion of Paul the apostle in his travels. Let's look at a few references to Gaius found in the scriptures:
And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. Acts 19:29
And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater or Berea, and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus, and Secundus: and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheous, and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. Acts 20:4
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. Romans 16:24
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 1 Corinthians 1 :14
The significance of taking the time to look at this one individual is that the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not only to the whole world, but also to each individual living within it. John's message was to this one person, just as the gospel of Jesus is to each of us. In the book of Romans in chapter one and verse sixteen it Paul the apostle wrote:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Jesus said in John chapter three and verse sixteen:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life.
In other words, the gospel of Jesus Christ is for every individual upon the Earth. John's choice in writing to Gaius should give us all assurance that we too as individuals may know God's truth in love, and thereby we may have a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Although our names may not be written in the Bible per se, we are invited as individuals to know God in a personal way, and to know the love of God that is available to all who will receive Him.
Nest time we will take a look at what John wishes upon Gaius as John greets him. It is a desire for all of us as well, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
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