In this epistle the apostle congratulates Gaius upon the prosperity of his soul (3 John 1:1, 2), upon the fame he had among good Christians (3 John 1:3, 4), and upon his charity and hospitality to the servants of Christ, 3 John 1:5, 6. He complains of contemptuous treatment by an ambitious Diotrephes, (3 John 1:9, 10), recommends Demetrius, (3 John 1:12), and expresses his hope of visiting Gaius shortly, 3 John 1:13, 14.