Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 3 John 1:7

"because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles." — 3 John 1:7 (ASV)

That they went out “for the sake of the Name” (i.e., Jesus Christ; cf. Acts 5:41) shows that they were missionaries. The sending body is either the elder’s community or a company of believers known to the elder and Gaius. That they could receive nothing from pagans shows how strongly the Johannine church depended on Jesus’ word in Mk 6:8, 10. Furthermore, common sense would also make them refuse support from pagans. We do know that wandering preachers and missionaries of pagan deities were common in the Roman world.

It was difficult enough accepting gifts from the church, as Paul showed, let alone taking help from unbelievers (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:14–18; 2 Corinthians 12:16–18; 1 Thessalonians 2:6–9). Although Paul acknowledged the right of the traveling missionaries to be supported by the church (1 Corinthians 9:14), he was well aware of the risks this entailed. Nonetheless, for the mature Christian community such support was encouraged and gladly received (cf. Php 4:10–18). For both the giver and the receiver there was a blessing to be received. In the Johannine community such support was certainly a part of the sacrifice one Christian owed another. Even a Christian’s life was not beyond the limit love required .