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:
Parallel translations
- WEB They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God,
- BSB They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
- NKJV who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,
- NASB and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
- NLT They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
These travelers publicly praised Gaius's love before the church, and John urges him to keep helping them on their way 'worthy of God.' Supporting gospel workers is a sacred service done as unto God.
Overview
To 'send forward on their journey' meant equipping missionaries with what they needed to continue, a recognized form of partnership in ministry. John says this should be done in a manner 'worthy of God,' that is, reflecting God's own generous character. Such support makes ordinary believers true partners in advancing the gospel of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Th 2:12That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
- Acts 15:3And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
- Titus 3:13Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
- Phlm 1:5–7Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
- Col 1:10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- Rom 15:24Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
- Phil 4:14Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
- Gen 4:7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
- 2 Cor 1:16And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
- Acts 21:5And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
- Matt 25:21–23His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
- Acts 15:29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
- 1 Pet 2:20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- 3 Jn 1:12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
- Jonah 4:4Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Faithful love shown for the sake of 'the Name' is service rendered to Christ, who is the truth in which his people walk.
How 3 John 1:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.