1 [This is being written by] the elder to my dear [friend] Gaius, whom I love in the truth. [Note: This may mean “whom I truly love”].
3 John 1:1 Cross References - AUV
Acts 19:29
29 The city became full of confusion; they grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's Macedonian traveling companions, and everyone together rushed into the amphitheater.
Acts 20:4
4 The following men accompanied Paul as far as [the province of] Asia [where Troas was located]: Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus, of Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus, of Thessalonica; Gaius, of Derbe; Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from [the province of] Asia, [seven in all].
Romans 16:23
23 Gaius, who is hosting me [i.e., Paul] and the whole church [here], sends you his greetings. [Note: This was probably the Gaius who lived in Corinth (I Cor. 1:14) and was apparently both wealthy and generous]. Erastus, the city treasurer [of Corinth] sends his greetings to you, along with our brother Quartus. {{Some manuscripts contain verse 24), which repeats the benediction of verse 20}}
1 Corinthians 1:14
14 I am thankful that I did not immerse any of you, except for Crispus and Gaius,
1 John 3:18
18 Little children [i.e., dear ones], we should not [merely] claim to love [people], or [even just] talk about it, but [we should love] by what we do [for them] in a genuine way.
2 John 1:1-13
1 [This is being written by] the elder to the lady chosen [by God], and to her children [Note: The terms “lady” and “children” here refer to a congregation and the Christians who belong to it. See I Peter 5:13; II John 13], whom I love in the truth. [Note: Perhaps this phrase means “whom I truly love”]. And I am not the only one [to love you], but all those [other congregations] who know the truth [of God], also love you.
2 [We all love you] because of the truth which continues to live in our hearts and will be with us forever.
3 Unearned favor, mercy and peace will be with us from God, the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love [i.e., truth and love will accompany the other blessings].
4 I was very happy when I learned that some of your children [i.e., members of the congregation] are living in [harmony with the] truth, just as we have been commanded to do by the Father.
5 And now I ask you, lady [See verse 1], not as though writing a new commandment to you, but [I wanted to remind you of] one that we had [heard] from the beginning [of Christ’s ministry]: [It is] that we should love one another.
6 And this is [the true meaning of] love: That we should live in obedience to God’s commandments. And this is the commandment, just as you heard from the beginning, that you should live in it [i.e., live a life of love].
7 For many deceivers have begun circulating in the world; they are those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come [to earth] in a physical body. Such a person is the deceiver and the antichrist [See I John 2:18f].
8 Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you do not lose what we [Note: Some Greek manuscripts say “you”] worked for [i.e., the spiritual blessings you have acquired], but [continue faithful] so that you will receive a full reward. [See Luke 12:47-48; James 3:1; Matt. 20:1-15].
9 Every person who does not continue to follow the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God [in his life]. [But], the person who continues to follow in the teaching [of Christ] has both the Father and the Son [in his life].
10 If anyone comes to you [i.e., to your meetings] who does not bring this teaching [about Christ], you should not welcome him into your home or give him [any] greetings [i.e., suggesting approval or endorsement].
11 For the person who greets him [with approval] participates in his evil deeds [i.e., in his false teaching].
12 I have many [more] things to write to you about, but will not do so with paper and ink, since I hope to visit you [soon] and speak to you in person, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children [i.e., members] of your chosen sister [church] send you their greetings. [See verse 1].