'Dear' in the Bible

The Elder to his dear friend Gaius. Truly I love you.

My dear friend, I pray that you may in all respects prosper and enjoy good health, just as your soul already prospers.

My dear friend, you are acting faithfully in all your behaviour towards the brethren, even when they are strangers to you.

My dear friend, do not follow wrong examples, but right ones. He who habitually does what is right is a child of God: he who habitually does what is wrong has not seen God.