3 John 1:5
in 3 John 1Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;
KJV
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
⋯
This verse in 3 John 1
Commentary
8 notes on this verseBeloved, thou doest faithfully,.... Or a faithful thing, and as became a faithful man, a believer in Christ; in all his beneficence and charity he acted the upright part; he did not do it in an hypocritical way, to be seen of men, and gain applause from them, but from a principle of love, and with a view to the glory of God: whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which may design either different persons; and by "brethren" may be meant the poor brethren of the church that.
This site's exposition
for the brothers
on 3 John 1:5-8
Gaius cared for brothers who were strangers to him. To send them on their way, propempsas, meant supplying them, since they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. So we ought to support such men, the other side of 2 John 10.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Dearly beloved, you faithfully do whatever you work for the brothers and for the guests, who have borne witness to your love in the sight of the Church; if you have led them to God worthily, you will benefit. For they went forth for His …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Beloved, you act faithfully in whatever you work for the brethren, etc. You act faithfully, he says, as if he said: Just as you are truly faithful, so you act, showing your faith by your works.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He was hospitable, good to the brethren, even to strangers; it was enough to recommend them to Gaius's house that they belonged to Christ. Or he was good to the brethren of the same church with himself, and to those who came from far; all who were of the household of faith were welcome to him.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Beloved, thou doest faithfully - In the previous verses the writer had commended Gaius for his attachment to truth, and his general correctness in his Christian life. He now speaks more particularly of his acts of generous hospitality, and says that he had fully, in that respect, done his duty as a Christian. Whatsoever thou doest - In all your contact with them, and in all your conduct toward them. The particular thing which led to this remark was his hospitality; but the testimony respecting his general conduct had been such as to justify this commendation.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
faithfully--an act becoming a faithful man. whatsoever thou doest--a distinct Greek word from the former "doest": translate, "workest": whatsoever work, or labor of love, thou dost perform.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Thou doest faithfully - Πιστον ποιεις. Kypke thinks that πιστον is put here for πιστιν, and that the phrase signifies to keep or preserve the faith, or to be bound by the faith, or to keep one’s engagements. Thou hast acted as the faith - the Christian religion, required thee to act, in all that thou hast done, both to the brethren at home, and to the strangers - the itinerant evangelists, who, in the course of their travels, have called at thy house. There is not a word here about the pilgrims and penitential journeys which the papists contrive to bring out of this text.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀγαπητέ, | agapete | Beloved, | G27 → | 61 times |
| πιστὸν | piston | faithfully | G4103 → | |
| ποιεῖς | poieis | you are doing | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ὃ | ho | whatever | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | maybe | G1437 → | |
| ἐργάσῃ | ergase | you shall do | G2038 → | |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφοὺς | adelphous | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | that [thing] | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ξένους, | xenous | strangers, | G3581 → |
ἀγαπητέ,Beloved,
agapeteG27 →61 times
πιστὸνfaithfully
pistonG4103 →
ποιεῖςyou are doing
poieisG4160 →569 times
ὃwhatever
hoG3739 →1405 times
ἐὰνmaybe
eanG1437 →
ἐργάσῃyou shall do
ergaseG2038 →
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφοὺςbrothers
adelphousG80 →343 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῦτοthat [thing]
toutoG3778 →1381 times
ξένους,strangers,
xenousG3581 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Colossians 3:17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
- Proverbs 3:6
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- Ephesians 5:20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
Through
Galatians 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- Hebrews 13:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About 3 John
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on 3 John.