3 John 1:6

Authorized King James Version

Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
οὓς
G3739
Which
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
#2
ἐμαρτύρησάν
G3140
have borne witness
to be a witness, i.e., testify (literally or figuratively)
#3
σου
G4675
of thy
of thee, thy
#4
τῇ
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#5
ἀγάπῃ
G26
charity
love, i.e., affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast
#6
ἐνώπιον
G1799
before
in the face of (literally or figuratively)
#7
ἐκκλησίας
G1577
the church
a calling out, i.e., (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (jewish synagogue, or christian community of members on earth
#8
οὓς
G3739
Which
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
#9
καλῶς
G2573
well
well (usually morally)
#10
ποιήσεις
G4160
thou shalt do
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
#11
προπέμψας
G4311
if thou bring forward on their journey
to send forward, i.e., escort or aid in travel
#12
ἀξίως
G516
after
appropriately
#13
τοῦ
G3588
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#14
Θεοῦ·
G2316
a godly
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine sovereignty. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection