3 John 1:1 (LSB)

Passage

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Nearby Context

3 John 1:1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

3 John 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "elder", "beloved", "gaius", and "truth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "elder" and "beloved", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The next verse adds "Beloved I pray that in all respects...", so "elder" and "beloved" should be read forward into that movement. In 3 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "elder" and "beloved" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.