John describes himself as 'The elder'.  The term was borrowed from the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, where the 72 members were called ‘elders’ - the title previously given to the tribal leaders of Israel in the Old Testament (2 Kings 23:1).  Certainly, John was getting old by the time he wrote this letter to Gaius, but he was also a church leader who had spiritual oversight and godly care for this man.  Although John was a disciple who had been personally commissioned by Jesus (Mark 3:13-19), he does not assert his apostleship but uses a pastoral title (1 Peter 5:1).  John cared for Gaius and everything that concerned him.

As far as we know, Gaius (a Roman name) did not have a Jewish background.  He was a Gentile convert who John had known and respected as Gaius had grown in faith.  The two men shared a love for the truth as revealed by Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Although John was still his teacher and spiritual mentor, they had become friends and John regarded him as a trusted co-worker in the gospel because Gaius had a ministry of hospitality (the reason for the letter was to remind him how to be hospitable in a godly way).  As such, John prayed for him that he would remain fit and well to do that work.  But he should be discerning, so that he would welcome genuine believers to his home but be wary of impostors – the same message he wrote to the lady in 2 John 1:10-11.

John's prayer was not that his friend would have good health, to feel good in himself, but so that he could serve the Lord well.  Hospitality is spiritually and physically demanding.  It requires a sacrificial, willing servant-heartedness (1 Timothy 5:9-10).  Interestingly, hospitality is an essential ministry gift for anyone being considered to become an elder (the same Greek word is also translated as ‘overseer’ as in 1 Timothy 3:2-4).  If he could not welcome people into his own house, how could he welcome them into God's household (1 Timothy 3:5)?  John fully understood the sacrifice of giving hospitality, because he too was an elder and had welcomed Jesus' mother to live in his own home (John 19:26-27).

Although we like to have good health, and may be anxious when we are sick, wellbeing is not a right or a reward.  It is given so that we can serve our Master.  It is right to pray that God's servants will have the strength to do all that the Lord asks of them.  The apostles and elders of the Early Church knew that ill health would prevent them from getting on with the work of gospel ministry. That is why they prayed: it was not for their own sense of wellbeing but so that they might have the strength to serve the Lord and spread the gospel.