Topical Encyclopedia
Gaius is a name mentioned several times in the New Testament, referring to different individuals who played significant roles in the early Christian church. The name Gaius was common in the Roman world, and it is important to distinguish between these individuals based on the context provided in the Scriptures.
1.
Gaius of Macedonia: This Gaius is mentioned in
Acts 19:29. He was a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys. In Ephesus, during a riot incited by the silversmiths who felt threatened by the spread of Christianity, Gaius, along with Aristarchus, was seized by the mob. The text states, "Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia" (
Acts 19:29). This incident highlights the dangers faced by early Christians and the dedication of Paul's companions.
2.
Gaius of Derbe: Another Gaius is mentioned in
Acts 20:4 as one of Paul's companions on his journey from Greece to Asia. The passage reads, "He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia" (
Acts 20:4). This Gaius is identified with the city of Derbe, a location in the region of Galatia, indicating his role in the spread of the Gospel in Asia Minor.
3.
Gaius, Host to Paul: In
Romans 16:23, Paul sends greetings from Gaius, who is described as his host and the host of the whole church. The verse states, "Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings" (
Romans 16:23). This Gaius is likely a resident of Corinth, where Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. His hospitality and support for the church demonstrate the importance of lay members in the early Christian community.
4.
Gaius, Recipient of 3 John: The Apostle John addresses his third epistle to a beloved Gaius, commending him for his faithfulness and hospitality. The letter begins, "The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth" (3
John 1:1). John praises Gaius for walking in the truth and for his generous support of traveling missionaries, saying, "Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you" (3
John 1:5). This Gaius is celebrated for his commitment to the truth and his active role in the ministry of the church.
The various mentions of Gaius in the New Testament reflect the diverse and vital roles played by early Christians in the spread of the Gospel. Whether as a traveling companion of Paul, a host to the church, or a recipient of apostolic letters, Gaius exemplifies the dedication and hospitality that were crucial to the growth and sustenance of the early Christian communities.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Gaiuslord; an earthly man
Smith's Bible Dictionary
GaiusorCaius (lord)--
- A Macedonian who accompanied Paul in his travels, and whose life was in danger from the mob at Ephesus. (Acts 19:29) (A.D. 54.)
- Of Derbe. He went with Paul from Corinth in his last journey to Jerusalem. (Acts 20:4) (A.D. 54.)
- Of Corinth, whom Paul baptized and who was his host in his second journey in that city. (1 Corinthians 1:14;Romans 16:23) (These are supposed by some to be only one person.)
- John's third epistle is addressed to Christian of this name. We may possibly identify him with No. 2.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) A Macedonian, Paul's fellow-traveller, and his host at Corinth when he wrote his Epistle to the Romans (16:23). He with his household were baptized by Paul (1 Corinthians 1:14). During a heathen outbreak against Paul at Ephesus the mob seized Gaius and Aristarchus because they could not find Paul, and rushed with them into the theatre. Some have identified this Gaius with No. (2).
(2.) A man of Derbe who accompanied Paul into Asia on his last journey to Jerusalem
(3.) A Christain of Asia Minor to whom John addressed his third epistle (3John 1:1).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
GAIUSga'-yus (Gaios; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Gaios):
(1) The Gaius to whom 3 John is addressed. He is spoken of as "the beloved" (3John 1:1, 2, 5, 11), "walking in the truth" (3John 1:3, 4), and doing "a faithful work" "toward them that are brethren and strangers withal" (3John 1:5, 6). He has been identified by some with the Gaius mentioned in the Apostolical Constitutions (VII, 46), as having been appointed bishop of Pergamum by John.
(2) Gaius of Macedonia, a "companion in travel" of Paul (Acts 19:29). He was one of those who were seized by Demetrius and the other silversmiths in the riot at Ephesus, during Paul's third missionary journey.
(3) Gaius of Derbe, who was among those who accompanied Paul from Greece "as far as Asia," during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4). In the corresponding list given in the "Contendings of Paul" (compare Budge, Contendings of the Twelve Apostles, II, 592), the name of this Gaius is given as "Gallius."
(4) Gaius, the host of Paul when he wrote the Epistle to the Roman, and who joined in sending his salutations (Romans 16:23). As Paul wrote this epistle from Corinth, it is probable that this Gaius is identical with (5).
(5) Gaius, whom Paul baptized at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14).
C. M. Kerr
Greek
1050. Gaios --Gaius, the name of several Christian...Gaius, the name of several Christian. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Gaios Phonetic Spelling: (gah'-ee-os) Short Definition:
Gaius Definition
...Library
Gaius
... Chapter LIX.Gaius.Gaius, [2472] bishop of Rome, in the time of Zephyrinus,
that is, in the reign of Antoninus, the son of Severus...
Letter iv. To the SameGaius Therapeutes.
... LETTERS OF DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE. LETTER IV. To the sameGaius Therapeutes. How,
you ask, is Jesus, Who is beyond all, ranked essentially with all men?...
Letter i. ToGaius Therapeutes.
... LETTERS OF DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE. LETTER I. ToGaius Therapeutes. DARKNESS
becomes invisible by light, and specially by much light....
Letter iii. To the SameGaius.
... LETTER III. To the sameGaius. "Sudden" is that which, contrary to expectation,
and out of the, as yet, unmanifest, is brought into the manifest....
Letter ii. To the SameGaius Therapeutes.
... LETTER II. To the sameGaius Therapeutes. How is He, Who is beyond all [63] ,
both above source of Divinity and above source of Good?...
The Bishops in Jerusalem.
... 2. After him the succession in the episcopate was: first Cassianus; after him Publius;
then Maximus; [1532] following them Julian; thenGaius; [1533] after him...
Quirinius the Governor of Syria
... Marcius Censorinus governed Asia in AD.2-3. Further, Quirinius was probably
in Armenia in AD.3, as tutor ofGaius Caesar. There...
The First Successors of the Apostles.
... 22);Gaius of Macedonia (xix. 29); Aristarchus (xix.... 2); Sopater, Secundus,Gaius
of Derbe (perhaps the same as theGaius of Macedonia?), and Tychichus (xx....
Hence Neither is it Lawful to Accuse those who have Left All...
... For at Ephesus also they seizedGaius and Aristarchus instead of Paul, and rushed
to the theatre, these being Paul's companions in travel [2331] and he wishing...
Acts xx. 1
... "And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians,
Aristarchus and Secundus; andGaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia...
Thesaurus
Gaius (5 Occurrences)... During a heathen outbreak against Paul at Ephesus the mob seized
Gaius and Aristarchus
because they could not find Paul, and rushed with them into the theatre.
...Ga'ius (5 Occurrences)
Ga'ius.Gaius, Ga'ius. Galaad . Multi-Version Concordance... (See RSV). Romans
16:23Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you....
Trophimus (3 Occurrences)
... The eight were Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus, both from Thessalonica,
Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus, both "Asians," and lastly...
Aristarchus (6 Occurrences)
... He is suddenly mentioned along withGaius as having been seized by the excited
Ephesians during the riot stirred up by the silversmiths (Acts 19:29)....
Corinth (13 Occurrences)
... Hence, the many Latin names in the New Testament: Lucius, Tertius,Gaius, Erastus,
Quartus (Romans 16:21-23), Crispus, Titus Justus (Acts 18:7, 8), Fortunatus...
Derbe (4 Occurrences)
... It was the native place ofGaius, one of Paul's companions (20:4). He did not here
suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:11). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DERBE....
Erastus (3 Occurrences)
... He was apparently an important person in the Corinthian community, and withGaius
probably represented that church in these fraternal relations with the Roman...
Aristar'chus (6 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:29 and the whole city was filled with confusion, they rushed also with one
accord into the theatre, having caughtGaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians...
Romans (8 Occurrences)
... Phoebe (Romans 16:1) of Cenchrea conveyed it to Rome, andGaius of Corinth entertained
the apostle at the time of his writing it (16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14...
Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)
... Philemon 1:24).Gaius, too, who is mentioned in conjunction with Aristarchus,
may have been a Thessalonian (Acts 19:29). How long...
Resources
Who was Gaius in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Diotrephes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of 3 John - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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