3 John 1:7

7 because for his name’s sake, they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

3 John 1:7 Meaning and Commentary

3 John 1:7

Because that for his name's sake they went forth
From Judea; either of their own accord to preach the Gospel, or being drove out by the unbelieving Jews, for professing the name of Christ; and be it which it will, there was good reason why they should be regarded, and especially since they did as follows,

taking nothing of the Gentiles;
even of those who were converted, though their preaching the Gospel, to whom they ministered, for of others, the unconverted Gentiles, they could not expect to receive; and this they did, as the apostles before them, because they would not be chargeable to them, and lest it should be thought they sought their own worldly interest, and not the good of souls and glory of Christ, and so a stumblingblock be laid in the way of the Gospel, to hinder the progress of it. The Ethiopic version reads this in the singular number, "and I went forth for his name's sake, taking nothing of the Gentiles".

3 John 1:7 In-Context

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatever thou doest regarding the brethren and with the strangers,

6 who have borne witness of thy charity before the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}, whom if thou wilt help them as is convenient according to God, thou shalt do well;

7 because for his name’s sake, they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 We, therefore, ought to receive such, that we might be fellow workers to the truth.

9 I wrote unto the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us.