What does 3 John 1:1 mean?

This opening verse follows the common format of ancient letter writing. It includes the author, the recipient, and a brief introduction. This letter is from "the elder." From the earliest days of Christianity, this has been accepted as John the apostle. As is typical of John, though, his name is not specifically mentioned in the letter. John calls Gaius "whom I love in truth," and truth is a common theme in this short letter.

The recipient is "the beloved (or 'dear friend') Gaius." The name Gaius was common in the first century and is also seen in Acts 19:29, Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23, and 1 Corinthians 1:14. However, it is unlikely that all of these were the same person. Though little is known of this Gaius, he was clearly well known by the apostle John, and was a man committed to sharing the truth of the Lord with others. He was commended for helping traveling evangelists and helping others grow spiritually.