SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:6
los cuales han dado testimonio de tu caridad en presencia de la Iglesia; a los cuales si ayudares como conviene segn Dios, hars bien.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 3 John 1:6
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] axiwv tou qeou? 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church , etc] 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 16:6,11 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, jll , 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, whyawwlal , 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 an health are rich companions. Grace will employ health. A rich soul ma be lodged in a weak body; and grace must then be exercised i submitting to such a dispensation. But we may wish and pray that thos who have prosperous souls, may have healthful bodies; that their grac may shine where there is still more room for activity. How man professors there are, about whom the apostle's words must be reversed and we must earnestly wish and pray that their souls might prosper, a their health and circumstances do! True faith will work by love. A goo report is due from those who receive good; they could not but testif to the church, what they found and felt. Good men will rejoice in the soul prosperity of others; and they are glad to hear of the grace an goodness of others. And as it is a joy to good parents, it will be joy to good ministers, to see their people adorn their profession Gaius overlooked petty differences among serious Christians, and freel helped all who bore the image, and did the work of Christ. He wa upright in what he did, as a faithful servant. Faithful souls can hea their own praises without being puffed up; the commendation of what is good in them, lays them at the foot of the cross of Christ. Christian should consider not only what they must do, but what they may do; an should do even the common actions of life, and of good-will, after godly sort, serving God therein, and designing his glory. Those wh freely make known Christ's gospel, should be helped by others to who God gives the means. Those who cannot themselves proclaim it, may ye receive, help, and countenance those who do so.
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3739 εμαρτυρησαν 3140 5656 σου 4675 τη 3588 αγαπη 26 ενωπιον 1799 εκκλησιας 1577 ους 3739 καλως 2573 ποιησεις 4160 5692 προπεμψας 4311 5660 αξιως 516 του 3588 θεου 2316
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. The Church (ekklhsiav). See on Matt. xvi. 18.
If thou bring forward on their journey (propemyav). Lit., having sent forward. The aorist tense represents the act as accomplished. Compare Acts xv. 3; Tit. iii. 13. Rev., set forward.
After a godly sort (axiwv tou Qeou). Lit., worthily of God. So Rev. Compare 1 Thess. ii. 12; Col. i. 10.
Thou shalt do well (kalwv poihseiv). For the phrase, see Acts x. 33; Philip. iv. 14; Jas. ii. 8, 19; 2 Pet. i. 19. Rev., renders the whole: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God.
