3 John 1:8 (KJV)

Passage

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

Nearby Context

3 John 1:6 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:

3 John 1:7 Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

3 John 1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

3 John 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

3 John 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "ought", "receive", "such", "might", "fellowhelpers", and "truth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "ought", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "Because that for his name s sake..." into verse 9's "I wrote unto the church but Diotrephes...", so "therefore" and "ought" belong inside that flow. In 3 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "therefore" and "ought" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.