3 John 1:6

6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God.

3 John 1:6 in Other Translations

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:

6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.

6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God.

6 They've made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It's good work you're doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself!

6 who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:

6 These believers have told the congregation about your love. You will do well to support them on their trip in a way that proves you belong to God.

6 they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God,

6 They have told the church about your love. Please help them by sending them on their way in a manner that honors God.

3 John 1:6 Meaning and Commentary

3 John 1:6

Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church,
&c.] 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 ) ( 20:38 ) ( 21:5 ) ( Romans 15:24 ) ( 1 Corinthians 16:6 1 Corinthians 16:11 ) ( 2 Corinthians 1:16 ) ( Titus 3:13 ) , and is used by the Septuagint in the same sense as here, and in the above places, in ( Genesis 18:16 ) ; where it is said, that "Abraham went with them (the angels) to bring them on in the way", (Mxlvl) , "to send them on", or "send them away"; dismiss them, take his leave of them in a friendly and honourable way. The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan render it, (Nwhyawwlal) , "to accompany them"; and so this Greek word, which seems to answer to the Hebrew phrase, signifies an honourable accompanying, leading forth, and taking leave of friends; and so the apostle encourages Gaius to behave in like manner to the brethren and strangers; meaning, either by accompanying them in person, or by sending his servants along with them, both to direct them the way, and to secure them from danger, and chiefly by furnishing them with everything necessary for them; see ( Titus 3:13 ) . And this he would have him do,

after a godly sort;
or "worthy of God"; in imitation of God, who is merciful, kind, and beneficent; or as it became him whom God had called by his grace to his kingdom and glory; or as it was fit and proper such servants of God, as those brethren were, should be used; and this would be doing well:

thou shalt do well;
what is grateful and well pleasing to God, and beautiful and lovely in the eyes of his people.

3 John 1:6 In-Context

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.

6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God.

7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.

8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Corinthians 16:11; 2 Corinthians 1:16
• 2. S Ephesians 4:1