3 John 1:5–8, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
3 John 1:5–8
Receive and Send Forward Workers for the Truth
Send the workers on in a way worthy of God
Gaius is already doing a faithful thing. He works for the brethren, including travelers who were strangers to him, and they have testified of his love before the church. The Elder asks him to bring them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God. They went out for the Name and took nothing of the Gentiles. Those who receive such people become fellowhelpers to the truth. Hospitality here is partnership in the mission, not a hobby of being nice.
The duty is bounded by 'such.' These are identifiable Christian workers, known to a church, serving the Name, and depending on believers rather than on the people they went out to reach. This is not a blank check for every visitor, traveler, teacher, or claimant who uses Christian language and wants a bed, a pulpit, or a check. Welcome is tested loyalty to the Name. It is not gullibility, and it does not erase safeguarding, accountability, or the letter's own refusal to receive deceivers.
How this should shape us
Before you open a home, wallet, or platform, ask who sent this person, what Name they serve, and whether the church can recognize the work. Then give fitting help so trustworthy service can continue. Do not confuse gospel partnership with a standing invitation for anyone who spiritualizes a need at the door.
Teach it back
Explain 3 John 1:5–8 in your own words. Show its movement, its place in the letter, and one conclusion the context rules out.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: Interpreters debate whether 'the Name' refers specifically to Jesus or more generally to God's name; the Christian missionary context is clear, but the noun is left absolute in Greek. They also differ over how formal the workers' commission was and exactly what support they refused. The letter establishes their Christian identity, church testimony, mission, and dependence on believers without supplying a universal funding policy.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: The exact displayed English Scripture text and the complete verse assignment for this thought unit.
Pinned KJV source-data record for 3 John 1:5–8, derived from the repository's checksum-locked 1769 KJV corpus.
Supports: The Greek wording, grammar, discourse connections, and original-language terms checked for this thought unit.
SBLGNT data/sblgnt/text/3John.txt, 1:5–8 (critical-edition numbering uses 1:15 for the final peace and greetings).
Supports: Material translation, syntax, lexical, and verse-numbering questions in this thought unit.
NET Bible, 3 John 1, translation and translators' notes on 1:5–8.
Supports: The unit's literary movement, older-language clarification, principal interpretations, and explicit limits on reconstruction.
Stott, The Letters of John, 3 John commentary pp. 253–257.
Supports: Verse-level Greek, literary flow, translation choices, and major exegetical alternatives for this unit.
Harris, Exegetical Commentary on 3 John 1–15, “The Body of the Letter (vv. 3-14),” verse 5-8 Summary/Exegetical Details.
Supports: Hospitality as mission support, the range of 'receive,' the Elder's role, and the unresolved relationship between missionary policy, authority, and local conflict.
Jones, The Missional Role of ho Presbyteros, Communities in Dispute, pp. 141–154, especially pp. 142–148 on the workers, the Name, support, and shared mission.
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact displayed English Scripture text and the complete verse assignment for this thought unit.
Exact location: Pinned KJV source-data record for 3 John 1:5–8, derived from the repository's checksum-locked 1769 KJV corpus.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The Greek wording, grammar, discourse connections, and original-language terms checked for this thought unit.
Exact location: SBLGNT data/sblgnt/text/3John.txt, 1:5–8 (critical-edition numbering uses 1:15 for the final peace and greetings).
Open the 3 John Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 3 John with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Material translation, syntax, lexical, and verse-numbering questions in this thought unit.
Exact location: NET Bible, 3 John 1, translation and translators' notes on 1:5–8.
Open source ↗modern commentary
The Letters of John: An Introduction and Commentary
John R. W. Stott
InterVarsity Press, 1988
Supports: The unit's literary movement, older-language clarification, principal interpretations, and explicit limits on reconstruction.
Exact location: Stott, The Letters of John, 3 John commentary pp. 253–257.
Open source ↗open exegetical commentary
Exegetical Commentary on 3 John 1–15
W. Hall Harris III
Bible.org, 2004
Supports: Verse-level Greek, literary flow, translation choices, and major exegetical alternatives for this unit.
Exact location: Harris, Exegetical Commentary on 3 John 1–15, “The Body of the Letter (vv. 3-14),” verse 5-8 Summary/Exegetical Details.
Open source ↗scholarly essay
The Missional Role of ho Presbyteros
Peter Rhea Jones
Society of Biblical Literature Press, 2014
Supports: Hospitality as mission support, the range of 'receive,' the Elder's role, and the unresolved relationship between missionary policy, authority, and local conflict.
Exact location: Jones, The Missional Role of ho Presbyteros, Communities in Dispute, pp. 141–154, especially pp. 142–148 on the workers, the Name, support, and shared mission.
Open source ↗