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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 3 John 1:7 - 1:7
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
For the sake of the Name (huper tou onomatos). The name of Jesus. See Act 5:4; Rom 1:5 for huper tou onomatos and Jam 2:7 for the absolute use of “the name” as in 1Pe 4:16. “This name is in essence the sum of the Christian creed” (Westcott) as in 1Co 12:3; Rom 10:9. It is like the absolute use of “the Way” (Act 9:2; Act 19:9, Act 19:23; Act 24:22).
Taking nothing (mēden lambanontes). Present active participle with the usual negative with participles (1Jo 2:4).
Of the Gentiles (apo tōn ethnikōn). Instead of the usual ethnōn (Luk 2:32), late adjective for what is peculiar to a people (ethnos) and then for the people themselves (Polybius, Diodorus, not in lxx), in N.T. only here, Mat 5:47; Mat 6:7; Mat 18:17. Like our heathen, pagan. John is anxious that Christian missionaries receive nothing from the heathen, as our missionaries have to watch against the charge of being after money. There were many travelling lecturers out for money. Paul in 1 Cor 9 defends the right of preachers to pay, but refuses himself to accept it from Corinth because it would be misunderstood (cf. 1Th 2:6.; 2Co 12:16.). Note apo here as in collecting taxes (Mat 17:25) rather than para, which may be suggestive.