3 John 1:8
in 3 John 1Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.
KJV
We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
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This verse in 3 John 1
Commentary
11 notes on this verseHence it is said to Gaius through John concerning certain traveling brothers: "For they went forth for the name of Christ, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such persons, that we may be fellow workers for the truth." For he who provides temporal assistance to those who have spiritual gifts becomes a fellow worker in those very spiritual gifts.
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.
This site's exposition
fellow workers for the truth
The verb hupolambanein means to take up and carry. It answers verse 7, where the workers took nothing from the Gentiles, so the church takes them up instead. Whoever supports them becomes one of the fellow workers for the truth.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Therefore, we ought to receive such as these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. "we ought to receive." ᾽Απολαμδάνειν is taken for ἀναλαμδάνεσθαι, that is, to receive as when it is said: "They received me like a lion ready for prey." (Ps. …
The Medieval Church3 voices
John teaches us that we should not wait for such needy people to come to us but should rather go out and look for them, for that is what Lot and Abraham did.
Therefore, we ought to support such men, etc. The blessed John, who had left all things for Christ, aligns himself with the person of believing rich men, so that he might make them more eager to have compassion on the poor and strangers: nor should …
"To receive" is used in the sense of "to take up," "to seize." By this the Apostle teaches us not to wait for the needy to come to us, but to run to meet them ourselves and entreat them to come to us, as Abraham …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
We therefore ought to receive such,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
We therefore ought to receive such - Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, and have professed the truth at the hazard of their lives, and the loss of all their worldly substance. Instead of απολαμβανειν, to receive, the most ancient and reputable MSS. have ὑπολαμβανειν, to take up, undertake for, or kindly receive. Fellow helpers to the truth - And thus encourage the persecuted, and contribute to the spread and maintenance of the Gospel.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
We--in contradistinction to "the Gentiles" or "heathen" referred to, 3Jo 7. therefore--as they take nothing from the Gentiles or heathen. receive--The oldest manuscripts read, "take up." As they "take" nothing from the Gentiles, we ought to take them up so as to support them. fellow helpers--with them. to the truth--that is, to promote the truth.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
We therefore ought to receive such - All of us ought hospitably to entertain and help such persons. The work in which they are engaged is one of pure benevolence. They have no selfish aims and ends in it. They do not even look for the supplies of their own needs among the people to whom they go to minister; and we ought, therefore, to help them in their work, and to contribute to their support. Doubtless, the apostle meant to urge this duty particularly upon Gaius; but, in order to show that he recognized the obligation himself, he uses the term “we,” and speaks of it as a duty binding on all Christians. That we might be fellow-helpers to the truth - All Christians cannot go forth to preach the gospel, but all may contribute something to the support of those who do; and in this case they would have a joint participation in the work of spreading the truth. The same reasoning which was applicable to that case, is also applicable now in regard to the duty of supporting those who go forth to preach the gospel to the destitute.
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | We ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | |
| ὀφείλομεν | opheilomen | ought | G3784 → | |
| ὑπολαμβάνειν | hupolambanein | to receive | G5274 → | |
| τοὺς | tous | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τοιούτους | toioutous | such [men] | G5108 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | |
| συνεργοὶ | sunergoi | fellow workers | G4904 → | |
| γινώμεθα | ginometha | we may be | G1096 → | |
| τῇ | tea | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀληθείᾳ.¶ | aletheia | truth. | G225 → | 109 times |
ἡμεῖςWe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →
ὀφείλομενought
opheilomenG3784 →
ὑπολαμβάνεινto receive
hupolambaneinG5274 →
τοὺς<the>
tousG3588 →19766 times
τοιούτουςsuch [men]
toioutousG5108 →
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →
συνεργοὶfellow workers
sunergoiG4904 →
γινώμεθαwe may be
ginomethaG1096 →
τῇin the
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἀληθείᾳ.¶truth.
aletheiaG225 →109 times
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
1 Thessalonians 3:2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
it leads to
- Acts 14:22–23
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- Ephesians 6:21–22
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
- Acts 14:22–23
Through
Philemon 1:24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
it leads to
- Colossians 4:14
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
- 2 Timothy 4:10–11
because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Colossians 4:10
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
- Acts 15:37–39
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
- Colossians 4:14
Through
2 Corinthians 8:23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to the glory of Christ.
it leads to
- Philippians 2:25
But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.
- Philemon 1:17
So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
- Philippians 2:25
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
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About 3 John
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Gregory the Dialogist, 40 Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 20; Gregory the Great, Forty Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 20; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Oecumenius, Commentary on 3 John and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 3 John.