Witnessing in Love and Supporting (3 John 1:5-8)

WITNESSING IN LOVE AND SUPPORTING (3 JOHN 1:5-8):

Apostle John addresses the recipient as beloved which shows his closeness in heart to Gaius and love he has on him. Apostle John writes that it is a faithful thing that Gaius do in all his efforts for the brothers who are the strangers who testified to his love before the church. Gaius has a good testimony among the other believers and leaders and Apostle John continues saying how he is careful and considerate in putting all the genuine efforts for the believing brothers who are not belonging to his own culture or region or relation but totally far with many differences, for his love, are truthful and sincere. The ministers or believers who had been received by Gaius gave a good report about him saying about the love of Gaius not only towards them but also for the crew he had been involved and taking care.

Apostle John not only encourages them by writing about the things he knew about Gaius and things he heard about Gaius but also write about things by having the hope and assurance on him. Apostle John writes to him that He will do well, to send the brothers who were strangers on their journey in a manner worthy of God. Gaius should have been so genuine and true in his love that he would know the needs of the visitors and give his best in every way possible for him, as giving to God. 

Apostle John writes to Gaius about the status of the brothers who were strangers to him that he ought to support them, for they had gone out for the sake of the name of Jesus, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore they ought to support people like those, that they may be fellow workers for the truth. The brothers had been for the outreach of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, salvation through His name and they had offered the service of the proclamation of Gospel for free, as it would be inappropriate to receive the compensation for it from the Gentiles. They were much genuine in faith with Godly principles, therefore Apostle John recommended that they should be supported so that Gaius could be a partaker and stakeholder with them, being a fellow worker to proclaim the truth.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.      What is the faithful thing by Gaius?

2.      Who are those brothers?

3.      What did the brothers do?

4.      What does Apostle John say Gaius, by having hope for him?

5.      What are the Characteristics of Gaius that we could follow?

6.      What did the brothers do for the sake of Jesus’ name?

7.      Why the brothers did not accept anything from the Gentiles?

8.      Why Gaius need to support the brothers?

9.      What does the author mean by fellow workers for the truth?

10.  How we can be faithful and be testified?

11.  Whom we can support? How?