Saturday, February 17, 2007

Other Gaius

There are three of the name of Gaius mentioned in scripture, probably not three people and a possibility that they are all the same person. The name Gaius means "lord, an earthly man." Paul was at Corinth during the writing of the Roman's epistle, a guest of a wealthy friend named Gaius. Paul writes, "Gaius my host, and of the whole church, salutes you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you, and Quartus a brother." Tertius may be at the home during the writing. Gaius may have been an inhabitant of Corinth and being the host of Paul, Christians may have also have come to his house to assemble. He was baptized by Paul, "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name."

Gaius was with Paul during the silversmith riots at Ephesus at about 54. That Gaius, man from Macedonia was an evangelist with Paul seems apparent. Paul, with his companions had been so persuasive with the people at Ephesus were turning to Jesus and rejecting the goddess Diana. This angered the silversmiths who made their living in the trading of false idols. The mob seized Gaius and Aristarchus because they could not find Paul, and rushed with them into the theatre. "Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together."

Gaius was a man of Derbe, who continued with Paul after this into Asia on his return from Macedonia into Asia, probably to Jerusalem, that is if it is the same man. The man that was called a Macedonian is now identified as being from Derbe which is not even close. Again, it may be the same man that entertained Paul at Corinth but nothing connects these three except the name. "And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus."

The apostle John also addresses Gaius in his third epistle. There is an obvious affection for Gaius by Saint John and says a lot about him in view of his spiritual maturity. He is well beloved and loved in the truth, he is faithful to the brethren and hospitable. What an honor it is to have been given to be the recipient of a letter devoted to love from the apostle of love. These words have been taken throughout church history to have been written to us as well.

The letter of John to Gaius.

The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Beloved, you do faithfully whatsoever you do to the brethren, and to strangers;
Which have borne witness of your charity before the church: whom if you bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, you shall do well:
Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, receives us not.
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church.
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God.
Demetrius has good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and you know that our record is true.
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto you.
But I trust I shall shortly see you, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to you. Our friends salute you. Greet the friends by name.
[292, BD, 380, Romans 16:23, 1 Corinthians 1:14, Acts 19, 20, III John]

(source: http://latter-rain.com/ltrain/gaius.htm )

For some reason, it was fashionable in the 14th century to give personal names to birds. Thus we have the robin, the martin, the jay and the magpie (i.e. Margaret-pie). It is interesting to note that the name jay here is probably also the same as in jaywalking. These words come from the proper name Jay, which was considered a common enough name in Britain that it came to be used to refer to provincial folk in general. In the U.S. it referred to unsophisticated rural people, and jaywalking was something those country folk did when they got to the city because they weren't accustomed to dealing with traffic back home. Jaywalk is peculiarly American and dates from the early part of the 20th century. Oh, and by the way, Jay as a name comes ultimately from Latin Gaius.

(source: http://www.takeourword.com/Issue087.html )

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