3 John 1:7 (ASV)

Passage

because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

Nearby Context

3 John 1:5 Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;

3 John 1:6 who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:

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

3 John 1:8 We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.

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

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sake", "name", "went", "forth", "taking", "nothing", and "gentiles". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sake" and "name", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "who bare witness to thy love before..." into verse 8's "We therefore ought to welcome such that...", so "sake" and "name" 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 "sake" and "name" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.