3 John 1:5

John loved Gaius as Gaius loved the brethren to whom he had extended hospitality.

"The early Christian community’s deep interest in hospitality is inherited from both its Jewish roots and the Greco-Roman culture of its day." [Note: Barbara Leonhard, "Hospitality in Third John," The Bible Today 25:1 (January 1987):11.]

John’s affection for Gaius is obvious in his repeated use of the word "beloved" (cf. 3 John 1:2). Gaius acted faithfully in the sense that his behavior was consistent with God’s truth (cf. 2 John 1:1-2).

It is possible that Gaius had shown love "for the brethren and for strangers" as some Greek texts read. On the other hand, perhaps the NASB translation is correct: he showed love to the brethren and even to those brethren who were strangers to him. Probably Gaius had demonstrated love to all these varieties of people (cf. Hebrews 13:2).