That in all things

He might have the preeminence

Quartes

Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus (fourth – Young’s G2890) a brother. (Romans 16:23)

Tertius

I Tertius, (third – Young’s G5060) who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. (Romans 16:22)

Secundus

And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; (second – Young’s G4580) and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. (Acts 20:4)

Primis

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (First in rank – Young’s G4409). (Colossians 1:18)

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence (ambitious fond of being first - Young’s G5383) among them, receiveth us not. (3 John 1:9)

In the sixteenth chapter of Romans verse twenty-three the apostle is mentioning a few that were with him that wanted to send their greetings to those he was writing to in Rome. A brother named Gaius is mentioned being his host. It may be the same Gaius that John writes his third epistle to. If it is, he is continuing to show hospitality to the Lord’s people as he received Christians though they were previously strangers to him.

In the same verse another brother is mentioned by the name of Quartus, he is simply referred to as a brother. If we look in Young’s concordance we find his name means fourth. This brother represents what we all should be content to be, that is - a brother - a member of the body of Christ - with no ambition to seek a position above others. Quartus “a brother” is a fine commendation.

In the preceding verse we have another brother mentioned. His name is Tertius and if we look in Young’s concordance we find his name means third. He was the one that wrote the epistle as Paul dictated it to him. He was in the right place at the right time to be used by the Lord to help Paul with composing the letter to the Lord’s people in Rome. No doubt many others could also have been used in writing this letter, but Tertius was the one that was used. He had an ability that the Lord could use, but it would be important for Tertius to keep in mind that he really was a Quartus a brother that happened to be used for this purpose.

Far to often some one is given a special place because of his written ministry and by doing so we can easily spoil him to start thinking that he is something special and he starts taking a place above his brethren. I remember an incident where a young brother gave a good searching gospel message. After the meeting some were mentioning how much they enjoyed the message when another brother came up to him and simply said, “it is a humbling thing to be used of the Lord.” Yes, it is important to remember that it is the Lord who uses whom ever He will to accomplish what He wants. I remember another incident on the sands of seaside town. It was an unusually warm day and the windows of the bingo hall were open to allow some fresh air to come in. A brother was speaking in the open air to a few on the beach, he quoted a verse a few times and the caller in the bingo hall got a little annoyed and mockingly repeated the verse over the loud speaker the result was that many others heard the verse. I say this to show that the Lord uses whom He will and we should always feel humbled to think that the Lord may use one of us or even an unconverted man to accomplish His will.

In Acts chapter twenty verse four we find another brother by the name of Secundus and if we look again at Young’s concordance we find that his name means second. This brother accompanied the apostle on his travels. No doubt it was a real privilege to do so. I have heard of one who sought to be with certain “laborers” thinking that it would give him some kind of status that others did not have and that it would give him a place over his brethren. Secundus had a real privilege but it was the Lord’s doing to make it possible to travel with the apostle.

The word for first is “Primis”; there is no one that has that name in the word of God. It was reserved only for the Lord Jesus for he alone was to have the preeminence. He did not go after it for it was already His.

In John’s third epistle we have two very opposite personalities. Gaius is a good example of one that was happy to be just a brother. He received other Christians that came in the name of the Lord. He was not seeking a following. He was not elevating himself above others. He was walking in the truth. He may have suffered for his faithfulness, but he had the Lord’s approval. But Diotrophies wanted something that only belongs to the Lord Jesus, he wanted the preeminence, and in his quest for a place and a following he destroyed the display of the oneness that the Lord so wanted for His people. He made a sect where none could challenge his position. He did not walk in the truth. He did not value the oneness that the Lord desired. He cast out those that would receive other Christians that came in the name of the Lord.

How much better it is to have the Lord’s approval than the approval of unfaithful men. How much better to hear from the Lord those words, “well done” than to have the praise of men.

Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 45:5)

The haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. (Isaiah 2:17)

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Phillippians 2:1-3)