3 John 1 · Verse 6

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:

3 John 1:6, King James Version

3 John 1:6 in other translations

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.
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,
ASV	who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:
YLT	who did testify of thy love before an assembly, whom thou wilt do well, having sent forward worthily of God,
DARBY	(who have witnessed of thy love before the assembly,) in setting forward whom on their journey worthily of God, thou wilt do well;
BBE	Who have given witness to the church of your love for them: and you will do well to send them on their way well cared for, as is right for servants of God:
Webster	Who have borne testimony of thy charity before the church: whom if thou shalt bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou wilt do well:

What does 3 John 1:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

6. borne witness of thy charity before the church--to stimulate others by the good example. The brethren so entertained by Gaius were missionary evangelists (3Jo 7); and, probably, in the course of narrating their missionary labors for the edification of the Church where John then was, incidentally mentioned the loving hospitality shown them by Gaius. bring forward on their journey--"If thou (continue to) forward on their journey" by giving them provisions for the way. after a godly sort--Greek, "in a manner worthy of God," whose ambassadors they are, and whose servant thou art. He who honors God's missionary servants (3Jo 7), honors God.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 6. Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church. It would seem that they had returned to John, and borne honourab1e 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, ουςπροπεμψας. "Whom bringing forward, or having brought forward." The word refers to aid rendered 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. Probably Gains aided them in every way in which it was practicable. It has been made a question whether this refers 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 visit which they purposed to make. The Greek would seem to favour the latter construction, and yet it would appear from the epistle, that the "brethren and strangers" actually had been with him; that they had been rejected by the church through the influence of Diotrephes, and had been thrown upon the hospitality of Gaius, and that they had returned, and had borne honourable testimony to his hospitality. These views can be reconciled by supposing, as Loicke does, that having been once on their travels, and having shared the hospitality of Gaius, they were purposing to visit that region again, and that John, praising him for his former hospitality, commends them again to him, stating the reason (3Jn 1:9,10) why he did not, in accordance with the usual custom, recommend them to the care of the church. They had now gone out (3Jn 1:7) on the same errand on which they had formerly gone, and they had now equal claims to the hospitality of the friends of religion.

After a godly sort. Margin, as in Greek, worthy of God. The meaning is, As becomes those who serve God; or as becomes those who are professors of his religion.

Thou shalt do well. You will do that which religion requires in these circumstances.

(d) "forward on their journey" Acts 15:3 (3) "after a godly sort" "worthy of God"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 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, Do we deal with these in a manner worthy of God, and worthy of the profession we make? Do we suffer them to lack the bread that perisheth, while they minister to us with no sparing hand the bread of life? Let a certain class of religious people, who will find themselves out when they read this note, consider whether, when their preachers have ministered to them their certain or stated time, and are called to go and serve other Churches, they send them forth in a manner worthy of God, making a reasonable provision for the journey which they are obliged to take. In the itinerant ministry of the apostles it appears that each Church bore the expenses of the apostle to the next Church or district to which he was going to preach the word of life. So it should be still in the mission and itinerant ministry.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 3 John 1:1-8

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…

Read the full comment on 3 John 1:1-8 →

3 John 1:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἳhoiwhoG3739

ἐμαρτύρησάνemarturēsantestifiedG3140

σουsouof yourG4771

τῇtēa<the>G3588

ἀγάπῃagapēloveG26

ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799

ἐκκλησίας,ekklēsias[the] church,G1577

οὓςhouswhomG3739

καλῶςkalōswellG2573

ποιήσειςpoiēseisyou will doG4160

προπέμψαςpropempsashaving set forwardG4311

ἀξίωςaxiōsworthilyG516

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦ.theouof God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 3 John 1:6

1 Thessalonians 2:12
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Acts 15:3
And 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 3:13
Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
Philemon 1:5-7
Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Colossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Philippians 4:14
Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Romans 15:24
Whensoever 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.
Matthew 25:21-23
His 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. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, 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.
Genesis 4:7
If 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 Corinthians 1:16
And 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 Judea.
Acts 15:29
That 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.
3 John 1:12
Demetrius 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

have borne witness of thy charity.
12; Phm 1:5-7
whom.
Ac 15:3; 21:5; Ro 15:24; 2Co 1:16; Tit 3:13
after a godly sort. or, worthy of God.This is a literal and proper rendering of the original [axios tou theos ;] by which the antecedent to the possessive pronoun his, in the next verse, becomes immediately apparent. "In a manner worthy of God, and of your relations and obligations to Him, and such as He can approve."
1Th 2:12
do well.
Ge 4:7; Jon 4:4; Mt 25:21-23; Ac 15:29; Php 4:14; 1Pe 2:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

3 John 1:5
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
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:
3 John 1:7
Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

Read all of 3 John 1

3 John 1:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Los cuales han dado testimonio de tu amor en presencia de la iglesia: á los cuales si ayudares como conviene según Dios, harás bien.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	qui ont rendu témoignage à ton amour devant l’assemblée; et tu feras bien de leur faire la conduite d’une manière digne de Dieu,
German Elberfelder 1871	und du wirst wohltun, wenn du sie auf eine gotteswürdige Weise geleitest.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	qui testimonium reddiderunt caritati tuæ in conspectu ecclesiæ: quos, benefaciens, deduces digne Deo.