Inductive Study: 3 John 1:7

because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

3 John 1:7

Dear Heavenly Father, the world sows so much confusion that so easily can entangle us.  Please straighten my mind and help me to focus on my study.  I praise You for all that You've done in my life.  I couldn't do any of this without You.  Please keep the evil one away from me and my family.  Help us to grow in the love and knowledge of You.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

In verse 7, John continues the initial exhortation.  He continues to describe the actions of "they," the brethren and strangers. This verse starts with the word "because."  With that, we need to remember our study on the previous verse.  John told Gaius that he would do well, the right and honorable thing, if he prepares them in a manner worthy of God.  In verse 7, John tells Gaius "why" he will do well.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Went forth" in the Greek is exerchomai which means go out, went out, gone out, come out, to come forth, from, departing.  "For" in the Greek is gar which means sense is shaped by the previous statement, indeed, used to express cause, explanation, influence, continuation.  "Name" in the Greek is onoma which means character, reputation, manifestation of revelation of someone's character, as distinguishing them from others, the authority of Christ, praying in Jesus name, pray directed by Him, bringing revelation that flows out of being in His presence.  Acts 5:41 states "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."  

"Sake" in the Greek is huper which means in behalf of, above for the betterment (advantage) of, in the interests of truth, to extend benefit beyond the present situation, on account of, for the sake of, to do or suffer anything.  The fellow believers departed to influence the world for the betterment and in the interest of truth of Jesus' authority, character, and reputation.

"Taking" in the Greek is lambano which means receive, get, take, lay hold of aggressively (actively), what is available (offered), seize, to get possession of a thing, strive to obtain, accepting.  "Nothing" in the Greek is medeis which means no one, nothing, none, not even one, no man, have nothing to do with, in no respect.  1 Corinthians 9:12 states "If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ." 1 Corinthians 9:15 states "But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void."  

"Gentiles" in the Greek is ethnikos which means pagan, heathen, non-Jew, standing outside of God's covenant, alien to the worship of the one true God, savoring the nature of pagans.  Ethnikos is from the root word, ethnos, which means the nation.  The fellow believers didn't strive to obtain anything of this world so that they would not hinder the Gospel of Christ.  They didn't even want the recognition of doing the work of spreading the Gospel.

We will do well in this world if we model the behaviors of the fellow believers in this verse.  They wanted nothing to do with the world.  They did everything to uphold the reputation of Jesus.  They wanted the world to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Do my actions benefit Christ?  Am I good example of Christ in me?  Do I rely on the acceptance and praise of the world?  Please understand that my life not only reflects my reputation but more importantly Jesus' reputation. 

Knowing this, I'm humbled of how unworthy I am.  However, since I believe in Jesus and what He did for me and all of us, I am made worthy.  You can be made worthy and be different than this world.  You can be freed of the shackles of the perceptions and demands of this world.  Simply admit you are unworthy, believe that Christ died to take the punishment for your unworthiness, and confess to the world that Jesus has made you worthy. 

Ecclesiastes 7:20 states "For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin."  Ezekiel 18:20 states "The soul who sins shall die."  But there is tremendous, life changing news!  John 3:15-16 states "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  God is calling you.  The world is calling You.  Whom will you serve?  Whom will you chose?

For these [traveling missionaries] went out for the sake of the Name [of Christ], accepting nothing [in the way of assistance] from the Gentiles

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Inductive Study: 3 John 1:6

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,

3 John 1:6

Dear Heavenly Father, You do answer prayers, big and small.  It may not be what we envisioned or in our timing, but You do answer prayers.  Let me just praise Your name.  Whatever glory I have to give, I give it all to You.  I'm humbled by Your love and Your grace.  Help me tonight to stay grounded in Your Word and please let Your Word speak wisdom into my life.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

In verse 6, John continues the body of the letter focusing on encouragement.  The first part of the body is the initial exhortation, or an emotional plea to inspire people to act.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

This verse starts with the word "who."  We must look to the previous verse to discover the identity of the "who."  In this case, the people referred are the brethren and strangers.  "Borne witness" in the Greek is martureo which means testify, told, give evidence, give a good report, to bear witness unto the truth and how great it is, testimony by deed not word.  "Love" in the Greek is agape which means benevolence, good will friendship, esteem, love which centers on moral preference, divine love which God prefers.  Fellow Christians and strangers that Gaius has helped inform the world of Gaius' kindness and friendship to them.

"Before" in the Greek is enopios which means before the face of, in the presence of, in the eyes of, all things happen under God's watch in keeping with His plan built on His absolute knowledge, before one's eyes, in one's presence and sight of hearing.  The English word, church, comes from the Greek word, kyriakos, which means belonging to the Lord.  However in this verse, "church" in the Greek is ekklesia which means assembly, congregation, whole body of Christian believers, people called out of the world to God, a company of Christians.  Ekklesia is made of the word iek (out from and to) and kaleo (to call).  The brethren and aliens report with tangible evidence Gaius' hospitality bodily in the presence and sight of hearing of the people called out from the world to God, the whole assembly of believers.

"Send them forward on their journey" in the Greek is propempo which means send forward, assist and send, accompany, equip for a journey, send before, send forth, helped on my way, fit him out with the requisites for his journey.  "In a manner worthy" in the Greek is axios which means suitable because recognized as fitting (have worth that matches an actual value).  1 Thessalonians 2:12 states "that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."  Colossians 1:10 states "that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."  Gaius has prepared the brethren and strangers.  He has outfitted them with the supplies and wisdom in a manner valuable to God, who owns and sustains all things.  They are prepared for this journey called life to please God by being fruitful in every good work.

"Well" in the Greek is kalos which means nobly, rightly, honorably, viewed as good, appealing, advantageous, winsomely attractive, agreeable to the facts and words of the case, rightly so there is no room for blame, act uprightly.  If Gaius outfits them for the journey in a manner honorable to God, he will act uprightly so there is no room for blame.

Gaius is friendly and generous when receiving guests, visitors, and strangers.  He cares for them through his hospitality.  Being hospitable toward guests is easy, toward visitors can be uncomfortable, and toward strangers can be frightening and hard.  How does Gaius have this ability?  The answer is simple, the Holy Spirit.  As a believer, the Holy Spirit gives us gifts to conduct the ministry.  1 Peter 4:9 states "Be hospitable to one another without grumbling."  This thought is concluded at the end of 1 Peter 4:11 which states "that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever."  When you show hospitality, you shine Christ.

Luke 6:31 states "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."  If someone cuts you off in traffic, take a breath, say a prayer for them, and continue to drive safely.  You don't know what is going on with their day.  Give them the benefit of the doubt.  Judge them favorably in the absence of full evidence.  If we all show this patience and caring for each other, how the Gospel would be proclaimed.  Be friendly, understanding, and generous to everyone, even ones you don't know.

and they have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to [assist them and] send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

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Inductive Study: 3 John 1:5

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, 

3 John 1:5 

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to concentrate on your Word today.  Please remove the distractions of life and of people.  Help me to be your faithful servant.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.   

In verse 5, John begins the body of the letter which focusing on doctrine (Christian set of beliefs) and encouragement.  The first part of the body is the initial exhortation, or an emotional plea to inspire people to act.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses. 

"Beloved" in the Greek is agapetos which means beloved by Christ/God/one another, divinely loved, personally experiencing God's "agape-love," divinely loved ones, esteemed, favorite, reconciled by God and judged worthy of eternal life.  John is once again repeating his love of his fellow Christian, Gaius. 

"Do" in the Greek is poieo which means make, manufacture, construct, act, cause, to perform something worthy of a Christian.  "Faithfully" in the Greek is pistos which means trustworthy, believing, loyalty to faith, fullness of faith, believing faith that God imparts, to do something harmonizing with Christian faith.  "Whatever" in the Greek is hos which means who, which, what, that, also demonstrates this.  According to John, whenever Gaius acts, he performs it in a manner worthy of being called a Christian loyal to God. 

"Brethren" in the Greek is adelphos which means member of the same religious community, fellow Christian, fellow believer.   Galatians 6:10 states "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Hebrews 13:1 states "Let brotherly love continue."  "Strangers" in the Greek is xenos which means new, novel, foreigner, alien, guest.  Matthew 25:35 states " for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in."  These activities that Gaius does, he does them not only for fellow believers but also for people who he doesn't know and/or who aren't Christians. 

Gaius, divinely loved by God who has been judged worthy of eternal life, performs acts worthy of a Christian loyally and faithfully for fellow Christians, guests, foreigners, aliens, and strangers.  "Worthy" in the Greek is either axioo which means matching value to actual substance or axios which means God's balance scale of truth.  A worthy person is honorable, meritorious.  Specifically, the person has credible (worthy of belief, esteem, and praise) conduct, good reputation, deserving of respect, integrity, and a keen sense of duty.  Am I worthy of being called a Christian? 

Romans 7:18 states "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find."  It is not me who is worthy but Christ who lives within me as a believer.  Romans 8:1 states "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."  However, that doesn't mean I can neglect the brethren or the strangers.  For James 2:14 states "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?" 

How do people know that I'm a Christian, by the fruit of my works.  How am I able to do these works, only by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Am I worthy? Christ makes me worthy and the Holy Spirit enables me to live worthy. 

Beloved, you are acting faithfully in what you are providing for the brothers, and especially when they are strangers; 

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