I LOVE IN THE TRUTH
Friday – October 31, 2025
Video link: https://youtu.be/tzTaYdnuOno
Greetings dear saints and others. Welcome to the start of this Bible Study of 3rd John. We started our study of the “little Johns” on the 20th of October 2023. I have missed a few Fridays for one reason or another but for the most part I have dealt with 1st and 2nd John and now we are delving into 3rd John. Let’s go to our text.
3 John 1:1-4 (ESV)
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.
The Apostle of love, John, one of the original twelve is writing to a man (and to us) by the name of Gaius. A simple Bible search shows a person with this name mentioned five times including this mention. It is not known if these mentions are the same or different persons. It strikes me that they are likely all the same man. Four of the five references are related to the Apostle Paul either traveling with him or hosting him. In our text Gaius is known to the Apostle John and appears to be a spiritual son (verse four).
As in previous writings John refers to himself as an elder and refers to this man Gaius as one who is beloved. The word or term beloved is apparently reserved only for those of faith in Christ Jesus and is directly related to Divine love, agapē/agapaō according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. We like our Heavenly Father have Divine love regarding all persons however this term indicates Gaius is a fellow believer.
Next in this first verse of the epistle we find the phrase “whom I love in the truth” which he used in 2nd John as well with reference to the elect lady. Some other translations interpret this phrase as “whom I truly love”.
3 John 1:1 (PassionNTPsa)
1 From the elder to my dearly loved brother Gaius, whom I truly love:
This would seem to indicate that this man is not only loved as a fellow believer as opposed to all other peoples but there is soul tie (emotional attachment) love/friendship with this man as well. The Word for Word Bible translations render the original text as “love in the truth”. When we studied 2nd John, we spent some time thinking about this idea of loving (agapē/agapaō) in the truth.
Perhaps you will recall that this truth, Bible truth, is Jesus, it is the Word, it is the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth, and it is love. Since God is love and the Holy Spirit always points to Jesus might we say that we love according to the Word, led of the Spirit with Jesus, the Word, as our prime example. This brings us to an oft quoted (in some circles) second verse.
3 John 1:2 (ESV)
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.
We will delve into this verse with both feet next Friday.
TAKE HOME:
- The term “beloved” in Scripture denotes our Divine (agapē/agapaō) love towards a fellow believer.
- It should be generally understood that Divine love (agapē/agapaō) is according to the Word of God, it is selfless and according to Blood Covenant. However, God treats people is how we are to treat people.
- The Apostle does not just say that he loves this man Gaius as he did the elect lady but doubles down saying it is according to the truth (the Word).
Lord willing, I will resume right here next Friday. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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