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.
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,
- KJV 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:
- 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,
- 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 2:12to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
- Acts 15:3They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.
- Titus 3:13Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them.
- Phlm 1:5–7hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
- Col 1:10that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- Rom 15:24whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
- Phil 4:14However you did well that you shared in my affliction.
- Gen 4:7If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
- 2 Cor 1:16and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent forward by you on my journey to Judea.
- Acts 21:5When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.
- Matt 25:21–23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
- Acts 15:29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
- 1 Pet 2:20For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.
- 3 Jn 1:12Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
- Jonah 4:4Yahweh said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.