3 John 1:6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 3 John 1:3-8

In these verses we have, I. The good report that the apostle had received concerning this friend of his: The brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee (3 John 1:3), who have borne witness of thy charity before the church, 3 John 1:6. Here we may see, 1. The testimony or thing testified concerning Gaius?the truth that was in him, the reality of his faith, the sincerity of his religion, and his devotedness to God; and this evinced by his charity, which includes his love to the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 3 John 1:5-8

1:5-8 Beloved, whatever service you render to the brothers, strangers as they are, is an act of true faith and they testify to your love before the church. It will be a further kindness, if you send them on their way worthily of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the Name and they take no assistance from pagans. It is a duty to support such men, that we may show ourselves fellow-workers with the truth. Here we come to John's main object in writing. A group of travelling... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 3 John 1:5-8

Further, this passage tells us about the wandering missionaries who gave up home and comfort to carry afield the word of God. In 3 John 1:7 Paul says that they have gone forth for the sake of the Name and take no assistance from pagans. (It is just possible that 3 John 1:7 might refer to those who had come out from the Gentiles taking nothing with them, those who for the sake of Christianity had left their work and their home and their friends and had no means of support.) In the ancient... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 3 John 1:6

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

An apostolic pastoral to a Christian man. We have here another price, less fragment, giving us a glimpse into the actual Church life of the first century, and of the Christian deeds and difficulties of one of its honoured members. We have no other inspired letter to a private Church member. This serves a double purpose. It enables us to picture, in outline, Gains, with his Christian work, his character, and his trials. It enables us also to picture a Church as to its fellowship, its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:1-14

The aged presbyter's letter to a private Church-member. "The eider unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth." As in the Second Epistle, John takes the familiar official designation of "the elder." The receiver of the Epistle was regarded by John with more than ordinary affection; for he at once designates Gaius "the beloved," and three times in the course of the short Epistle be addresses him by this designation. He was widely beloved; for the addition here, while emphasizing the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:5-6

Hospitality. "Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren," etc. We have here— I. HOSPITALITY EXERCISED . "Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal." 1 . The persons towards whom it had been exercised. 2 . The person by whom it had been exercised. Gains. But St. John in the text sets forth the exercise of hospitality as specially becoming in Christians. He speaks of it as "a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:5-12

2. MAIN DIVISION . Exhortation. Having thus stated the circumstances which have led to his writing, the elder begins the main portion of the letter, which consists of three sections; the hospitality of Gaius, and its value ( 3 John 1:5-8 ); the arrogance of Diotrephes, and its results ( 3 John 1:9 , 3 John 1:10 ); the moral ( 3 John 1:11 , 3 John 1:12 ). The transition to this central portion of the Epistle is marked by a repetition of the loving address. In all three cases ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 3 John 1:6

Who bare witness to thy love before the Church. The thoroughly Greek word ἐκκλησία is used by St. John nowhere but in this Epistle. This witness of the brethren before the Church respecting the good deeds done to them is a type and earnest of the witness of Christ at the day of judgment: "I was a stranger, and ye took me in … Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me." Whom thou wilt do well to forward on their journey in a manner... read more

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