Just who Gaius was is not certain. While there are several persons by this name mentioned in the Scriptures, this may have been yet another Gaius, since the letter was written 30 years or more after Acts, Romans, and First Corinthians, where the name Gaius also appears.​—Ac 19:29; 20:4; Ro 16:23; 1Co 1:14.

The third letter was from “the older man” to Gaius, with greetings to others in the congregation.