3 John 1:7 kjv
Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
3 John 1:7 nkjv
because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
3 John 1:7 niv
It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.
3 John 1:7 esv
For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
3 John 1:7 nlt
For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.
3 John 1 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| The "Name" of Jesus Christ (Purpose & Authority) | ||
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven... | Christ's Name is sole source of salvation. |
| Acts 5:41 | So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. | Suffering for Christ's Name. |
| Acts 9:15 | But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before both Gentiles and kings...” | Paul's mission to proclaim the Name. |
| Php 2:9-11 | For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name... | The supremacy and authority of Jesus' Name. |
| Col 3:17 | Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus... | All actions to honor Christ's Name. |
| Lk 24:47 | And that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations... | Gospel proclamation in His Name. |
| Jn 14:13-14 | Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do... | Prayers answered by Christ's authority/Name. |
| Supporting Christian Ministry / Gospel Workers | ||
| 1 Cor 9:7-14 | Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? ... The Lord directed that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living from the gospel. | Workers deserve support from those they serve. |
| Gal 6:6 | The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. | Reciprocal support for teachers. |
| Php 4:15-18 | ...you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel... no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone... | Paul received support from certain churches. |
| Mt 10:9-10 | Do not acquire gold, nor silver, nor copper in your money belts, nor a bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. | Workers rely on God's provision through believers. |
| Lk 10:7 | Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they provide; for the worker is worthy of his wages... | Apostles reliant on hospitality/support. |
| 1 Tim 5:17-18 | The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” | Financial honor for diligent spiritual leaders. |
| Integrity and Dependence in Ministry (Not Burdening / Accepting from Unbelievers) | ||
| 2 Cor 11:7-12 | Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you... | Paul sometimes declined support for specific reasons (Corinthians). |
| 1 Thess 2:9 | For you recall, brothers and sisters, our exertion and hardship; working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. | Paul worked to avoid burdening the community. |
| 2 Thess 3:8 | nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you. | Paul modeled self-support and non-burden. |
| 2 Cor 6:3-4 | giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God... | Avoiding offense to protect ministry reputation. |
| 1 Pet 5:2 | Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness... | Ministers serve for eagerness, not for money. |
| Prov 13:4 | The soul of the lazy one craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent one is abundantly supplied. | Principle of diligence and true reliance. |
| Love & Hospitality within the Church | ||
| 3 Jn 1:8 | Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth. | Encouraging support for truth-bearers. |
| Rom 12:13 | contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. | Practicing hospitality to fellow believers. |
| Heb 13:1-2 | Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it. | Showing hospitality to Christian strangers. |
3 John 1 verses
3 John 1 7 Meaning
This verse praises traveling missionaries who embark on their evangelistic journeys motivated solely by their devotion to Jesus Christ (referred to metonymically as "the Name"), demonstrating their faith and integrity by declining financial or material support from non-believers. Their conduct signifies a commitment to the purity of the gospel message and a reliance on divine provision through the believing community.
3 John 1 7 Context
The Third Epistle of John is a short but significant letter written by the Apostle John, praising Gaius for his faithfulness, particularly his hospitality towards itinerant Christian missionaries. The chapter contrasts Gaius's commendable behavior with the arrogance and hostility of Diotrephes, who rejected the missionaries and asserted unauthorized authority within the church. Verse 7 specifically commends these traveling preachers for a crucial aspect of their ministry: their commitment to "the Name" (Jesus Christ and His gospel) and their principle of refusing financial or material support from non-believers. This principle set them apart from pagan sophists, wandering philosophers, or other religious figures who often charged for their teachings, thereby upholding the purity and sincerity of the Christian message and their reliance on God's provision through the loving support of the believing community, as Gaius demonstrated.
3 John 1 7 Word analysis
- For (γάρ - gar): A causal conjunction, indicating the reason or explanation for the preceding statement (in verse 6, where John affirms Gaius's love for these missionaries and commends him for having sent them on their way worthily of God). It connects Gaius's commendable action directly to the commendable character of the missionaries.
- they (αὐτοί - autoi): Refers to the itinerant Christian missionaries or evangelists who had recently visited Gaius and whom John now praises. They represent those who embody the true spirit of Christian service.
- went out (ἐξῆλθον - exēlthon): A Greek aorist verb, meaning they departed or embarked. This implies a purposeful, intentional act of setting out for a specific mission. In this context, it signifies their commitment to propagating the Christian message by traveling to different regions, common for early church evangelists.
- for the sake of (ὑπὲρ - hyper): This preposition indicates purpose, benefit, or "on behalf of." Their going out was not for personal gain or wanderlust but had a specific, higher objective.
- the Name (τοῦ ὀνόματος - tou onomatos): A significant biblical metonymy. "The Name" here universally refers to Jesus Christ—His person, authority, character, mission, and the gospel message itself. To go out for "the Name" means to go out solely for the purpose of glorifying Christ, proclaiming His truth, and furthering His kingdom, signifying supreme allegiance and motivation.
- taking nothing (μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες - mēden lambanontes): An emphatic negative statement ("nothing at all") using a present active participle, indicating a continuous or habitual action of not accepting support. This highlights their consistent policy or principle, underscoring their self-denial and the purity of their motives.
- from the Gentiles (ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν - apo tōn ethnōn): This phrase specifies the source from which they refrained from taking support. "ethnōn" (ethnon) means "nations" or "Gentiles." In this context, it primarily refers to non-believers, those outside the Christian faith or pagan communities. The refusal was to avoid any perceived mercenary motive or financial dependence that might compromise the gospel's integrity or burden those who did not believe. It implicitly means they relied instead on God's provision, channeled through fellow believers (like Gaius).
- "went out for the sake of the Name": This phrase encapsulates the driving motivation of early Christian missions. Their departure was a consecrated act, undertaken with complete devotion to Christ and His gospel. It emphasizes that the mission was centered entirely on Him, not on worldly recognition or personal benefit. This spiritual priority shaped their methods and conduct.
- "taking nothing from the Gentiles": This policy demonstrates profound faith and integrity. It distinguishes genuine Christian ministry from profit-driven religious activities common in the ancient world. It shows trust in God's provision through His church and aims to prevent any accusation that the gospel was being peddled for financial gain or that converts were sought for monetary reasons. It upheld the non-commercial nature of the divine truth.
3 John 1 7 Bonus section
The distinction in 3 John 1:7 regarding financial support – not taking from Gentiles, but accepting (even expecting) it from believers – is a subtle but profound aspect of early Christian financial ethics. It indicates a clear understanding that the mission should not be compromised by perceived financial dependency on those outside the faith, thereby preventing misunderstandations or accusations of commercialism. This reliance on the brothers for support (implied and explicitly stated in v. 8) reinforces the communal responsibility of the early church to sustain those laboring for the truth, demonstrating Christian fellowship and active participation in the spread of the gospel. This approach contrasts sharply with those like Diotrephes (mentioned in 3 Jn 1:9-10), who, despite being "within" the church, actively worked against the missionaries and their Christ-centered mission, highlighting the difference between genuine Christian hospitality and self-serving church leadership.
3 John 1 7 Commentary
Verse 7 of 3 John articulates a core principle of integrity for early Christian itinerant ministry: preachers of the gospel "went out for the sake of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles." "The Name" profoundly signifies the very essence, authority, and mission of Jesus Christ. These missionaries undertook their journeys motivated solely by devotion to Him, indicating their profound commitment and the selfless nature of their calling. The second part, "taking nothing from the Gentiles," underscores a deliberate and principled refusal of financial or material support from non-believers. This practice served multiple critical purposes. It differentiated Christian ministry from prevalent ancient practices where traveling teachers (sophists, philosophers, some pagan priests) often charged for their services, which could lead to perceptions of mercenary motives. By refusing outside funding, these Christian evangelists safeguarded the purity of the gospel message, ensuring it was never seen as a commodity. More importantly, it demonstrated their complete reliance on God's provision, channelled through the generous and loving support of the Christian community, which, in turn, allowed the church to participate in the ministry (as Gaius did in v. 8). This policy built trust, exemplified humility, and kept the focus firmly on the free gift of salvation in Christ, not on earthly gain.This passage suggests that the purity of motives in gospel ministry is paramount.