or Caius (lord )-- A Macedonian who accompanied Paul in his travels, and whose life was in danger from the mob at Ephesus. The name Gaius was very common in those days. Learn Religions. The identity of the unnamed soldier in this verse has captured the Christian imagination for centuries. This is important because many of these early church leaders had to make great financial sacrifices to preach the gospel. A Christian of Derbe, one of the group waiting for Paul at Troas (Acts 20:4). Both receive help and healing, because it is not our worthiness that puts us in a position to receive Gods grace. While Gaius was not the closest assistant of Paul, he was an important part of his ministry. Christians loved Gaius as their brother in Christ. Some of the most powerful people in the Roman Empire were these military commanders. The latter refused to accept Gaius and his fellow Christians. Gaius was a godly Christian who was a friend of his. GAIUS g ys (, G1127, Gr. The Apostles companions also include Trophimus. For the story that Mark was telling he didnt want humans to confess Jesus as the Son of God apart from his passion (his suffering and death on the cross). Gaius is commended for his hospitality to traveling preachers of the gospel (verses 5, 6 and 8); for his faithfulness (verse 5); for his love (verse 6); and for his walking in the truth (verse 3). Of Derbe. To Whom Was It Written and Why? He is described as the beloved ( ), and is commended for his hospitality (v. 5). How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. 0. Its not all the other signs and wonders which evoke faith. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. A Christian, Gaius is mentioned in Macedonia as a traveling companion of Paul, along with Aristarchus ( Acts 19:29 ). ","name":"Who Is Gaius in the Bible? This common Roman name is shared by four men, and some writers find it difficult to differentiate between them. Everything points to the identification of1and2. Gaius is also mentioned in Acts 18:23b-28. They were under the supreme authority of the emperorto disobey his orders would have certainly led to an execution. The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius Gaius, or, according to the Latin orthography, Caius, was a common name among the Romans. Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary - Gaius, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Gaius, A Macedonian, Paul's fellow-traveller, and his host at Corinth when he wrote his Epistle to the (, A man of Derbe who accompanied Paul into Asia on his last journey to Jerusalem, A Christain of Asia Minor to whom John addressed his third epistle (, A Macedonian who accompanied Paul in his travels, and whose life was in danger from the mob at Ephesus. James Edwards says it well: In Mark, however, the confession is evoked not by miraculous signs, but by Jesus very death, when the centurion heard his cry and saw how he died. The confession the Son of God is causally linked to the death of Jesus on the cross (John 8:28). (, Of Derbe. He is also mentioned in the Philippians and Philemon letters, and his relationship with Paul is well documented. In order to do so, they needed help from Christians who lived in the area. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. (. 1. From some of the context in which the word appears, the reader may be able to discern that a centurion has something to do with the military. Paul and his travelling companions, Aristarchus and Gaius, were in a state of confusion and scuffles. F. D. Gealy says, the centurions were the actual working officers, the backbone of the army. Learn Religions, Sep. 5, 2021, learnreligions.com/what-is-a-centurion-700679. He has faith that Jesus is able to speak a word and his servant will be healed. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. In 3 John 1:1, the person to whom 3 John is addressed. Quick Answer - Missional Manifesto","datePublished":"2022-09-30T11:16:38+00:00","dateModified":"2022-09-30T11:16:38+00:00","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#website"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/author/jspaul/","name":"Pastor JS Paul","url":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/author/jspaul/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a25b86780015a7a80bc62298866e0757?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a25b86780015a7a80bc62298866e0757?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Pastor JS Paul","inLanguage":"en-US"},"sameAs":["https://web.facebook.com/groupepignosis"]},{"@type":"BlogPosting","headline":"Who Is Gaius in the Bible? New International Version (NIV). in the Chosen Season 3 episode 6 we see more proof that Gaius is changing! As company commanders, they held important responsibilities, including training, giving out assignments, and maintaining discipline in the ranks. Zavada, Jack. 3434 carolina southern belle; why is austria a developed country; gaius centurion bible. Crispus was the ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8), andGaiuswas presumably also a convert of some importance. I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 1 Peter 5:1. He was baptized by Paul in Corinth (1Cor 1:14) and likely supported the apostles position during the church disputes there. John is likely writing both to call unbelievers to faith in Jesus and to provide confidence for those believers who are struggling in their faith. Early church literature contains no mention of the epistle, with the first reference to it appearing in the middle of the third century. But this centurion seemed to know and believe that Jesus could accomplish whatever he desired. What does it mean when gnats are in your house? 1. Gaius is an appealing name because it means joyful and rejoicing. In other words, men with the name Gaius were happy in serving the Lord. Article Images Copyright , Lessons We Can Learn from the Roman Centurion in the Bible, 10 Reasons Why the Trial of Jesus Was Illegal. (2) Gaius of Macedonia, a "companion in travel" of Paul (Acts 19:29). We do not see them approaching Jesus (or his disciples) with their power but with their curiosity, and on occasion with an astonishing amount of faith. In the first century, Christians were on the move to minister in different locations. 5) Centurion Gaius' servant was healed by Jesus. His generosity was exemplary and was recorded throughout the church. It is almost certain, then, that each of the centurions we meet in the battle would have engaged in several instances of hand-to-hand combat. They apparently were the delegates from the churches who went with Paul to Jerusalem with the collection. What Is a Centurion? They are, at times, juxtaposed with religious leaders of whom you would expect to be the men of faith. New International Version (NIV), Lockyer's All the Men of the Bible Gaius. ga'-yus (Gaios; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Gaios): (1) The Gaius to whom 3 Jn is addressed. But its even more perilous when the group of Roman soldiers, who are escorting Paul and his companions, decide to execute them. In this way, Gaius dedication to supporting fellow church workers showed them that he cared about the church as a whole. Emendations of the text have been suggested by which of Derbe is taken with Timothy, but these are purely conjectural, and Timothy was apparently a Lystran (Acts 16:1-2). The same Gaius who was converted and baptized on St. Pauls first visit to Corinth entertained him on his second visit. Gaius [G'ius]i am glad. He was seized in the riot at Ephesus ( Acts 19:29 ). Even today we have lessons to learn from these Roman centurions. Yet another centurion is mentioned in Acts 10. No, Jesus identity is confirmed by His suffering not by extraordinary displays. For a first-century reader, particularly those with a Jewish background, the redemption of a Roman centurion would have been shocking. They paid him back during a mutiny by murdering him. azure resource types list He has faith that Jesus is able to speak a word and his servant will be healed. When the army encamped, centurions supervised the building of fortifications, a crucial duty in enemy territory. The religious leaders of the day did not seem to approach God with the same level of humility or curiosity, and likely found themselves outside the kingdom. Index of articles associated with the same name, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gaius_(biblical_figure)&oldid=1101399540, Articles needing additional references from July 2022, All articles needing additional references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, One chapter later, Gaius who has a residence in, Gaius is mentioned as having a residence in, Gaius is referred to in a final greeting portion of the, This page was last edited on 30 July 2022, at 20:50. The Roman army was an efficient killing machine, with centurions leading the way. Zavada, Jack. Luke 7:2-8 A Macedonian who accompanied Paul in his travels, and whose life was in danger from the mob at Ephesus. 2. ga'-yus (Gaios; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Gaios): (1) The Gaius to whom 3 Joh is addressed. 5. John also praised Gaius in the book of Acts. It also implies a love that is unconditional. One did not become a centurion without having your mettle tested in the throes of battle. Some would identify him with the Titius Justus of Acts 18:7. Gaius probably had some position in Diotrephes church, and he would have been a godly leader in his church. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Johns Purpose John writes to provoke faith in Jesus, resulting in eternal life. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you are a Gentile believer in Christ, its not too big of a stretch to say that the Roman centurion Cornelius paved the way for your social acceptance into the people of God. As a result, his name remains enshrined in holy writ. form of Lat. 19 I am no longer fit to be called your son. The Bible is filled with words that can be confusing to a 21st-centuryaudience. Was Jesus Questioned by Quintus in the Bible, What Does Transgression Mean in the Bible, Who Wrote the Book of Proverbs in the Bible, What Does the Bible Say About Seasons in Your Life, Who Was the Longest Living Person in the Bible, Can You Read the Bible in Chronological Order, What Are the Books of Wisdom in the Bible, Where Are the 3 Heavens Mentioned in the Bible. Gaius was a traveling companion of Paul. Make me like one of your hired workers.". Of Corinth, whom Paul baptized and who was . According to tradition this Gaius may be the one whom John appointed as bishop of Pergamum. In Acts 10 the centurion is named. in the Chosen Season 3 episode 6 we see more proof that Gaius is changing! But Mark highlights the cross. He was a silversmith and came from the Macedonian region of modern day Greece. Pilate symbolically washed his hands of the matter and handed Jesus over to the centurion and his soldiers to be executed. In Acts 20:4, a companion of St. Paul, who accompanied him fromGreeceto Asia Minor. "What Is a Centurion?" He was associated with the apostle Paul. A common name. God specifically called Peter to go to Cornelius, he helped him see that the gospel caused that which was unclean to become clean, and that the Spirit was given indiscriminately to all those who had faith in Jesus. A centurion (pronounced cen-TU-ri-un) was an officer in the army of ancient Rome. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Quick Answer - Missional Manifesto","datePublished":"2022-09-30T11:16:38+00:00","dateModified":"2022-09-30T11:16:38+00:00","articleSection":"What Does","author":{"@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/author/jspaul/"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#person"},"description":"Who Is Gaius in the Bible? Christ saves men of all nationalities and as they come into union with Christ they too are given the Holy Spirit. For example, it is a good way to encourage people to give to those in need. John had a deep affection for him, commended him for his hospitality, and desired his continued support for missionaries being sent out by John. Gaius is a Roman centurion and a former associate of Matthew. Why does Mark wait that long? A man of Derbe in Lycaonia and likewise a companion of Paul. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Our desperation and humble trust is what puts us in a position to receive Gods grace. Centurions got their name because they commanded 100 men (centuria = 100 in Latin). A cohort was 1/10th part of a Roman legion, typically 600 men under the command of six centurions. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. He was the means that God used to keep his promise of deliverance. As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: 1 John 3:18. Attempts have been made to identify3and4. Now it is perhaps easier to believe that thisCorinthianwould have friends, whom he would wish to salute, atEphesusrather than at Rome, and these salutations in Romans 16:23are thought by some scholars to point to anEphesiandestination of the passage. [4] His name first appeared in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. Only the Holy Spirit can give such love. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. https://www.learnreligions.com/what-is-a-centurion-700679 (accessed March 4, 2023). But something in this crucifixionin the very weakness and suffering of Jesus deathbecomes revelatory. Company Information; FAQ; Stone Materials. It is this posture, driven by the centurions faith, that leads to the healing of his servant. Posted On 7, 2022. Your email address will not be published. Gaius [N] [E] [H] or Caius ( lord )--. He had a generous heart and opened his home to all who needed it. They are described as men of Macedonia (), there being very little support for another reading, a man of Macedonia, referring to Aristarchus only. He doubtless was the same as the Gaius who was Pauls host when he wrote Romans from Corinth on the third journey (Rom 16:23). Paul thanks Gaius in 2Cor 8:19 for his financial gifts. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. This generosity earned Gaius a place in holy writ. They are only minor characters in the Bible, but when they do appear they make an immediate impact. lausd closing schools 2022. floral marble mosaic, gaius centurion biblesingapore 4d special draw. He was evidently a man of position and means (the greeting from him immediately precedes that from Erastus, the treasurer of the city), whether his hospitality took the form of keeping open house forChristiansandChristianvisitors like theApostleatCorinthor of allowing the Christians to meet for common worship and edification under his roof. Later, Aristarchus returned with Paul from Greece to Asia (Acts 20:4). Some scholars think that Gaius and Aristarchus accompanied Paul on this second missionary journey and traveled with him to Jerusalem. It is this simple faith that Mark has been exhibiting for his readers through the entire narrative. In 1 Corinthians 1:14, a member of the Church of Corinth, baptized by St. Paul, who points out that in his case, as in the case of Crispus and in that of 'the household . Some centurions took bribes to give their subordinates easier duties. The book of Acts describes the situation in Corinth as chaotic and unorganized. A Christian, Gaius is mentioned in Macedonia as a traveling companion of Paul, along with Aristarchus (Acts 19:29). 4. These Christians had little money, and needed to depend on other Christians for food and lodging. 2. Jesus taught that we are to imitate our Lord and His teachings. A Christian in Corinth; one of two men whom Paul names as having been baptized by him, contrary to his usual practice (1 Cor 1:14, 17). What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? One centurion named Lucilius was nicknamed Cedo Alteram, which means Fetch me another, because he was fond of breaking his cane over soldiers backs. The danger, lousy food, and brutal discipline led to dissent in the army. The Bible provides us with a short biography of Gaius, which is an excellent source for learning about this character. But what was a centurion and what can we learn from the Roman centurions in the Bible? Bible scholars speculate Julius may have been a member of the emperor Augustus Caesars Praetorian Guard, or bodyguard cohort, on special assignment to bring these prisoners back. The Third Epistle of John was written to Gaius, a faithful member of the Church whom John praised for showing unselfish devotion to the cause of Christ by providing accommodations for Gods traveling servants (see 3 John 1:58). That man's faith in Christ was so strong that Jesus healed the servant from a great distance (Matthew 8:513). What happened to Gaius and Aristarchus? In Acts 19:29, a companion of St. Paul, who withAristarchuswas seized at Ephesus. It is heartbreaking when a child doesnt follow the Lord. It was therefore inappropriate for a godly Christian to imitate the behavior of a false teacher. John praises Gaius for his dedication to working with the local church and other workers. He saw it as his duty to provide food and accommodation to those who had no place to go. Although he was not a preacher, he supported the ministry of other believers with his money and resources. 54.) Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. Cornelius is a god-fearing man but has a misunderstanding of the gospel. Matthew 8:5-9 New International Version The Faith of the Centurion 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. It was double-edged but specially designed for thrusting and stabbing because such wounds were more deadly than cuts. A righteous centurion named Cornelius and his entire family were baptized by Peter and were some of the first Gentiles to become Christians. Gaius to Alphaeus and Elisheva. The servant is healed because Jesus is working to overcome evil. The Bible describes Gaius as a traveling companion in Acts 19:29 and 20:4 and the apostle mentions him . Paul would argue similarly in the book of Galatians. Kirk B.R. His leadership of the church required teamwork. With this reading he could readily be identified with 1. above. Gaius is a Roman centurion and a former associate of Matthew. Who were Gaius and Aristarchus in the Bible? Julius Caesar considered these officers so vital to his success that he included them in his strategy sessions. He encourages Gaius to continue to share the gospel by sharing hospitality with other believers. The actions of children affect others and their parents. A centurion (pronounced cen-TU-ri-un) was an officer in the army of ancient Rome. But thankfully a centurion, named Julius, stepped in to defend Paul and his companions. The apostle had a conflict with the church leader Diotrophes. At the time of Christ, most carried a gladius, asword 18 to 24 inches long with a cup-shaped pommel. Of all those who would have confessed Jesus as the Son of God (including his disciples), why only record it on the lips of a Roman centurion? "That faith was the more surprising since the centurion was a Gentile and lacked the heritage of OT revelation to help him understand Jesus. While Jesus was on the cross, the centurion ordered his soldiers to break the legs of the men being crucified, to hasten their deaths. Johns third epistle is addressed to Christian of this name. The people chose a prisoner named Barabbas and shouted for Jesus of Nazareth to be crucified. His name first appeared in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. The variant reading , G1523, in Codex D makes him a Macedonian from Doberius. Under Roman rule, the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin, did not have the authority to carry out a death sentence. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. We learn from his story that God will always keep His Word, and he often uses unexpected means (a Romans centurion) to accomplish His purposes. For Christians, generosity is a good way to honor God and help others. In fact, Jews suspected that Paul brought Trophimus into the temple area, and that led to his arrest. And I have sinned against you. Of Derbe. ( Acts 20:4 ) (A.D. The lesson is found in John's short letter to Gaius (known as the 3rd epistle of John). According to a fifth century text on the Roman military, a centurion was required to have numerous elite traits: The centurion in the infantry is chosen for his size, strength and dexterity in throwing his missile weapons and for his skill in the use of his sword and shield; in short for his expertness in all the exercises. He is spoken of as "the beloved" (3 Jn 1:1,2,5,11), "walking in the truth" (3 Jn 1:3,4), and doing "a faithful work" "toward them that are brethren and strangers withal" (3 Jn 1:5,6). Since Season 1, most of us have been suspecting that Gaius would play the role of the Centurion with a sick servant who gets healed by Jesus, but The Chosen Season 3 all but confirms it. Pilate then released Jesus' body to Joseph of Arimathea for burial. John claimed that Diotrephes behavior revealed a spiritual blind spot and did not come from God. As we look at these things we will appreciate Gaius as a man of faith, hope, and love. Centurions played a big role in the Roman world. He went with Paul from Corinth in his last journey to Jerusalem. Many of the centurions are shown to be men of faith. In Acts 27, God (through an angel) revealed to Paul that he would survive his travel and speak before Caesar. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". He transferred over to the 10th legion as a junior-grade centurion in 61 BC when it was first formed, after being handpicked by Caesar. Later, that same centurion verified to Pilate that Jesus was, in fact, dead. Home; About Us. Required fields are marked *, How Many Types of Prayers Are There in the Bible. Trace these battle-proven Roman commanders in the Bible. Later in the empire, as the army was spread too thin, a centurions command dwindled to 80 or fewer men. The show drips information about Gaius and his family situation slowly over the course of the entire season. This Roman centurion teaches us the centrality of the cross. He is described as of Derbe (), possibly intentionally to distinguish him from3. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#person","name":"Akinyemi","sameAs":["https://twitter.com/akinyemiconsult@gmail.com"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#website","url":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net","name":"Akinyemi","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/#person"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/who-is-gaius-in-the-bible/#webpage","url":"https://www.missionalmanifesto.net/who-is-gaius-in-the-bible/","name":"Who Is Gaius in the Bible? Cowards could be executed. Aristarchus was of Macedonia, Gaius was of Thessalonica, and both men were Greek Macedonians. A Macedonian Christian; as Paul's companions in travel, he and Aristarchus were seized by the mob during the Ephesian riot ( Acts 19:29 ). Gaius, rejoiced, I am glad). Paul commended Gaius for being a Christian and for his faithfulness to Paul. But they too were men of authority, commanding several others with the authority of the emperor. Bibliography E. J. Goodspeed, Gaius Titius Justus, JBL, 69 (1950), 382, 383. (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). Gaius is the Greek spelling of the male Roman name Caius. of His generosity extended to those who were strangers to the Christian community. 1915. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 4. Share. In this reading, you will note four wonderful things that are said of this good man Gaius:. 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. A centurion, as the name indicates, was in charge of a regiment of at least 100 men. Zavada, Jack. For less than $5/mo. That he was host also to the whole church implies that the Corinthian church met in his spacious home. In Acts 15, as the church is debating the implications of Gentile inclusion, Cornelius is given as a test case. The Third Epistle of John was written to Gaius, a faithful member of the Church whom John praised for showing unselfish devotion to the cause of Christ by providing accommodations for God's traveling servants (see 3 John 1:58). They were expected to be courageous, rallying the troops during the tough fighting. Diotrephes problem was pride. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Gaius to Alphaeus and Elisheva. ( Acts 20:4 ) (A.D. See W. M. Ramsay,St. Paul theTravellerand the RomanCitizen, 1895, p. 280. (5) Gaius, whom Paul baptized at Corinth (1Corinthians 1:14). Gaius Marius was a strong and brave soldier and a skillful general, popular with his troops, but he showed little flair for politics and was not a good public speaker. There is no evidence to identify him with any of the above. Gaius Is Certainly the Centurion with the sick servant! Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? This is rather astonishing because up to this point in the narrative Jesus has not healed anyone from a distance. Salem Media Group. ga'-yus (Gaios; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Gaios): (1) The Gaius to whom 3 Joh is addressed. ), II. The discipline and efficiency of the legion as a fighting unit depended on them.Most centurions were men who had been in the military for 15-20 years and had earned this position of leading troops on the front line of battle. The third missionary journey of Paul includes Gaius. A Christian, Gaius is mentioned in Macedonia as a traveling companion of Paul, along with Aristarchus (Acts 19:29). Gaius was a friend of John, so it is possible he knew Diotrephes and had helped him financially in the past. Gaius is one of the most famous people in the Bible who was a team player. Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. For Peter, it was unclean for him to go into the house of a Gentilemuch less one who is a tanner of dead animal skins. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. He is also identified with Paul in Jerusalem. This common Roman name is shared by four men, and some writers find it difficult to differentiate between them. It is natural to do so, as the passages stand so close together. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Yet, centurions were also among those of whom Jesus is in the business of redeeming. He is baptized in Corinth, and is mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans. In Matthew 8 this centurion understands that Jesus is a man of great power and authority. John wrote a letter to Gaius. get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! This would have been a difficult ask for both Cornelius and Peter. He is well-loved and a faithful friend. ( 1Corinthians 1:14 ; Romans 16:23 ) (These are supposed by some to be only one person.) Ex-centurions were sometimes recruited to command auxiliary or mercenary troops in the various lands Rome had conquered. The Alphabetical Order of All Men Named in The Bible. One of these words is centurion. He is a figure in the New Testament of the Bible. 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