3 John 1:6

Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: BORNE WITNESS OF THY CHARITY BEFORE (IN THE PRESENCE OF) THE CHURCH - to stimulate others by the good example. The brethren so entertained by Caius were missionary evangelists (3 John 1:7). Probably, in narrating their missionary labours "before the church" where John was, they incidentally mentioned the loving hospitality, of Caius. BRING FORWARD ON THEIR JOURNEY - `if thou (continue to) forward on their journey,' by giving them provisions for the way. AFTER A GODLY SORT, [ axios (G514) Theou (G2316)] - 'in a manner wort...

1-8 Those who are beloved of Christ, will love the brethren for his sake. Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. Grace and health are rich companions. Grace will employ health. A rich soul may be lodged in a weak body; and grace must then be exercised in submitting to such a dispensation. But we may wish and pray that those who have prosperous souls, may have healthful bodies; that their grace may shine where there is still more room for activity. How many professors there are, about whom the apostle's words must be reversed, and we must earnestly wish and pray that their souls might prosper, as their health and circumstances do! True faith will work by love. A good report is due from those who receive good; they could not but testify to the church, what they found and felt. Good men will rejoice in the soul prosperity of others; and they are glad to hear of the g...

Verse 3 John 1:6. _WHICH HAVE BORNE WITNESS OF THY CHARITY_] Of thy love and benevolence. _BEFORE THE CHURCH_] The believers at Ephesus; for to this Church the apostle seems to refer. _WHOM IF THOU BRING FORWARD_] If thou continue to assist such, as thou hast done, _thou shalt do well_. The _brethren_ of whom St. John speaks might have been _apostles_; the _strangers_, assistants to these apostles, as John Mark was to Barnabas. Both were _itinerant evangelists_. _AFTER A GODLY SORT_] αξιως του θεου. _Worthy of God_; and in such a way as he can approve. Let all Churches, all congregations of Christians, from whom their ministers and preachers can claim nothing by law, and for whom the state makes no provision, lay this to heart; let them ask themselves,

WHICH HAVE BORNE WITNESS OF THY CHARITY BEFORE THE CHURCH - It would seem that they had returned to John, and borne honorable testimony to the love manifested to them by Gaius. Before what church they had borne this testimony is unknown. Perhaps it was the church in Ephesus. WHOM IF THOU BRING FORWARD ON THEIR JOURNEY - οὕς προπέμψας hous propempsas. “Whom bringing forward, or having brought forward.” The word refers to aid rendered to them in their journey, in facilitating their travels, either by personally accompanying them, by furnishing them the means of prosecuting their journey, or by hospitably entertaining them. Gaius probably aided them in every way in which it was practicable. It has been made a question whether this refer, to the fact that he had thus aided them in some visit which they had made to the church where Gaius was, or to a

WHICH HAVE BORNE WITNESS OF THY CHARITY BEFORE THE CHURCH,.... At Ephesus, where John was; these brethren and strangers coming thither, and being greatly affected with Gaius's kindness and liberality to them, could not forbear speaking of it to his praise, in the presence of the members of the church, as well as acquainted the Apostle John with it; the Syriac version reads, "before the whole church"; they bore testimony of his liberality in a very public manner And this the apostle mentions to encourage Gaius to go on, and continue in his kindness to the same persons, since they retained such a grateful sense of past favours; and whereas they were now returning back, he desires that he would give them some further assistance: WHOM IF THOU BRING FORWARD ON THEIR JOURNEY; the word here used signifies, to send on before, as in Acts 15:3, and is used by the Septuagint in the same se

COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE THE THIRD EPISTLE The Third Epistle is addressed by the elder, the aged Apostle John, to a brother by name of Gaius. A Gaius is mentioned in Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:14. It is impossible to say whether this is the same. John calls him well-beloved, whom he loved in the truth. Thus he emphasizes the truth once more as he had done before. He wishes that he might prosper in his body, in health, as even his soul prospered. He had heard from the brethren who testified of the truth in him and that he walked in the truth. He rejoiced in this and declares “I have no great

3 JOHN 1:12. COMMENDATION OF DEMETRIUS. He was probably the bearer of this letter and one of the evangelists. The name was so common that any identification with the Demetrius of Acts 19:24 is improbable. 3 JOHN 1:13. CONCLUSION. The writer adds no more because he hopes soon to visit Gaius. He sends greetings from himself and others. 3 John 1:14. the friends: this is almost a technical expression denoting an inner circle in the churches to which the writer and Gaius belonged. Those constituting each group were drawn together by moral affinities and love of the truth. Here the friends at Ephesus send a greeting to Gaius an

THE TEACHER'S JOY (3 John 1:1-4)...

HAVE BORNE WITNESS. bare witness. Same as "testify", 3 John 1:3. CHARITY. love. App-135. BEFORE. in the sight of. CHURCH. App-186. IF... JOURNEY. Literally having sent forward. Greek. _propempo._ See Acts 15:3. Compare App-174. AFTER. GODLY SORT. worthily of God (App-98.)...

Gaius praised for his Hospitality: Its special Value 5. _Beloved_ The affectionate address marks a new section (comp. 3 John 1:3_; 3 John 1:11_), but here again the fresh subject grows quite naturally out of what precedes, without any abrupt transition. The good report, which caused the Apostle such joy, testified in particular to the Christian hospitality of Gaius. _thou doest faithfully_ So the Vulgate; _fideliter facis_: Wiclif, Tyndale, and other English Versions take the same view. So also Luther: _du thust treulich_. The Greek is literally, _thou doest_ A FAITHFUL (THING), _whatsoever thou_ WORKEST (same verb as is rendered -wrought" in 2 John 1:8) unto the brethren