I missed yesterday, so I did two verses today.
6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
Those who were sent out returned home with a positive report of Gaius' hospitality and gave a positive report before the church. This was a church that the elder most likely belonged to in Ephesus and they must have had a time that was devoted to missionary reports. The love Gaius showed was agape love, that is self sacrificial love caring for the traveling missionaries at his own expense. You will do well to send them is a phrase that comes off as a polite request from John. The elder has confidence that Gaius will continue in his good work. Sending them forward relates to the nature of the work that the strangers were doing which is missionary work. They were assigned to continuously press on, spreading the gospel throughout their region and it was doing a godly service to make sure they were able to make it to their next stop which involved equipping them, praying for them, and helping to supply for their needs. Gaius by assisting these men was serving a role in their ministry, and since the missionaries were serving God faithfully, Gaius should do his best to support them. He should send them out not just in a way that was worthy of a prince, but one that was worthy of God. Those who assist God and support God's servants can expect reward (Matthew 10:42). The fact that Gaius had made good use of his resources to assist in the promotion of the gospel gave John a good basis for praying for his prosperity in verse 2. Not every believer is gifted in the teaching and preaching of the word but they can still share in the success and fruit of the ministry by helping provide for its needs.
7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
The Name they were going out for the sake was the name above all names, Jesus Christ, which is the entire message of the Christian faith. They went out proclaiming the gospel message of Jesus Christ, the one and only name that can bring salvation to mankind. They went out or were sent out rather, and received nothing from the pagans they ministered to. The word pagans (ethnikon) is usually a reference to the Gentiles, but here it is speaking of those who were lost among the Gentile nations. The traveling ministers did not seek finances from these people and depended on the generosity of fellow believers. It was not uncommon in that day for street preachers from false religions to take advantage of hospitality and try to gain as much as they could from the places they traveled to. One could actually live quite well in those days if they were looking to just exploit the kindness of others. The missionaries did not want to be grouped in with such people as it would compromise the content of their message which follows the same practice that Paul used at Corinth (see 1 Cor 9-15-18). When the integrity of the messenger has been called into question, it causes people to be skeptical of their message which is part of the reason why God's requirements for elders is high. God's gift of salvation is free, and to take money from non believers opens up the possibility for compromise. Often gifts come with strings attached for the one receiving the gift, or one who is unsaved may fall under the incorrect presumption that having given money to a godly servant he has somehow purchased favor with God. The Lord's servants should be supported by the Lord's people who have a correct understanding of what giving to God really means.
6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
Those who were sent out returned home with a positive report of Gaius' hospitality and gave a positive report before the church. This was a church that the elder most likely belonged to in Ephesus and they must have had a time that was devoted to missionary reports. The love Gaius showed was agape love, that is self sacrificial love caring for the traveling missionaries at his own expense. You will do well to send them is a phrase that comes off as a polite request from John. The elder has confidence that Gaius will continue in his good work. Sending them forward relates to the nature of the work that the strangers were doing which is missionary work. They were assigned to continuously press on, spreading the gospel throughout their region and it was doing a godly service to make sure they were able to make it to their next stop which involved equipping them, praying for them, and helping to supply for their needs. Gaius by assisting these men was serving a role in their ministry, and since the missionaries were serving God faithfully, Gaius should do his best to support them. He should send them out not just in a way that was worthy of a prince, but one that was worthy of God. Those who assist God and support God's servants can expect reward (Matthew 10:42). The fact that Gaius had made good use of his resources to assist in the promotion of the gospel gave John a good basis for praying for his prosperity in verse 2. Not every believer is gifted in the teaching and preaching of the word but they can still share in the success and fruit of the ministry by helping provide for its needs.
7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
The Name they were going out for the sake was the name above all names, Jesus Christ, which is the entire message of the Christian faith. They went out proclaiming the gospel message of Jesus Christ, the one and only name that can bring salvation to mankind. They went out or were sent out rather, and received nothing from the pagans they ministered to. The word pagans (ethnikon) is usually a reference to the Gentiles, but here it is speaking of those who were lost among the Gentile nations. The traveling ministers did not seek finances from these people and depended on the generosity of fellow believers. It was not uncommon in that day for street preachers from false religions to take advantage of hospitality and try to gain as much as they could from the places they traveled to. One could actually live quite well in those days if they were looking to just exploit the kindness of others. The missionaries did not want to be grouped in with such people as it would compromise the content of their message which follows the same practice that Paul used at Corinth (see 1 Cor 9-15-18). When the integrity of the messenger has been called into question, it causes people to be skeptical of their message which is part of the reason why God's requirements for elders is high. God's gift of salvation is free, and to take money from non believers opens up the possibility for compromise. Often gifts come with strings attached for the one receiving the gift, or one who is unsaved may fall under the incorrect presumption that having given money to a godly servant he has somehow purchased favor with God. The Lord's servants should be supported by the Lord's people who have a correct understanding of what giving to God really means.
