| The Character of Gaius. (a. d. 90.) [1]
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 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: 7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
In these verses we have,
I. The good report that the apostle had received concerning this friend of his: The brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee (v. 3), who have borne witness of thy charity before the church, v. 6. Here we may see,
1. The testimony or thing testified concerning Gaius—the truth that was in him, the reality of his faith, the sincerity of his religion, and his devotedness to God; and this evinced by his charity, which includes his love to the brethren, kindness to the poor, hospitality to Christian strangers, and readiness to accommodate them for the service of the gospel. Faith should work by love; it gives a lustre in and by the offices of love, and induces others to commend its integrity.
2. The witnesses-brethren that came from Gaius testified and bore witness. A good report is due from those who have received good; though a good name is but a small reward for costly service, yet it is better than precious ointment, and will not be refused by the ingenuous and religious.
3. The auditory or judicatory before which the report and testimony were given—before the church. This seems to be the church at which the apostle now resided. What church this was we are not sure; what occasion they had thus to testify his faith and love before the church we cannot tell; possibly out of the fulness of the heart the mouth spoke; they could not but testify what they found and felt; possibly they would engage the church's prayer for the continued life and usefulness of such a patron, that he might prosper and be in health as his soul prospered.
II. The report the apostle himself gives of him, introduced by an endearing appellation again: Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers, v. 5.
1. He was hospitable, good to the brethren, even to strangers; it was enough to recommend them to Gaius's house that they belonged to Christ. Or he was good to the brethren of the same church with himself, and to those who came from far; all who were of the household of faith were welcome to him.
2. He seems to have been of a catholic spirit; he could overlook the petty differences among serious Christians, and be communicative to all who borethe image and did the work of Christ. And,
3. He was conscientious in what he did: "Thou doest faithfully (thou makest faithful work of) whatsoever thou doest; thou doest it as a faithful servant, and from the Lord Christ mayest thou expect the reward of the inheritance." Such faithful souls can hear their own praises without being puffed up; the commendation of what is good in us is designed, not for our pride, but for our encouragement to continue therein, and should be accordingly improved.
III. The apostle's joy therein, in the good report itself, and the good ground of it: I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified, &c., v. 3. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth, in the prescripts of the Christian religion. The best evidence of our having the truth is our walking in the truth. Good men will greatly rejoice in the soul-prosperity of others; and they are glad to hear of the grace and goodness of others. They glorified God in me. Love envieth not, but rejoiceth in the good name of other folks. As it is joy to good parents, it will be joy to good ministers, to see their children evidence their sincerity in religion, and adorn their profession.
IV. The direction the apostle gives his friend concerning further treatment of the brethren that were with him: Whom if thou bring forward on their journey, after a godly sort, thou shalt do well. It seems to have been customary in those days of love to attend travelling ministers and Christians, at least some part of their road, 1 Cor. xvi. 6. It is a kindness to a stranger to be guided in his way, and a pleasure to travellers to meet with suitable company: this is a work that may be done after a godly sort, in a manner worthy of God, or suitable to the deference and relation we bear to God. Christians should consider not only what they must do, but what they may do, what they may most honourably and laudably do: the liberal mind deviseth liberal generous things.Christians should do even the common actions of life and of good-will after a godly sort, as serving God therein, and designing his glory.
V. The reasons of this directed conduct; these are two:—
1. Because that for his name's sake these brethren went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. It appears thus that these were ministerial brethren, that they went forth to preach the gospel and propagate Christianity; possibly they might be sent out by this apostle himself:they went forth to convert the Gentiles; this was excellent service: they went forth for God and his name's sake; this is the minister's highest end, and should be his principal spring and motive, to gather and to build up a people for his name: they went forth also to carry a free gospel about with them, to publish it without charge wherever they came: Taking nothing of the Gentiles. These were worthy of double honour. There are those who are not called to preach the gospel themselves who may yet contribute to the progress of it. The gospel should be made without charge to those to whom it is first preached. Those who know it not cannot be expected to value it; churches and Christian patriots ought to concur to support the propagation of holy religion in the pagan countries; public spirits should concur according to their several capacities; those who are freely communicative of Christ's gospel should be assisted by those who are communicative of their purses.
2. We ought therefore to receive such, that we may be fellow-helpers to the truth, to true religion. The institution of Christ is the true religion; it has been attested by God. Those that are true in it and true to it will earnestly desire, and pray for, and contribute to, its propagation in the world. In many ways may the truth be befriended and assisted; those who cannot themselves proclaim it may yet receive, accompany, help, and countenance those who do.
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论该尤的品格。
1:3 有弟兄来证明你心里存的真理，正如你按真理而行，我就甚喜乐。1:4 我听见我的儿女们按真理而行，我的喜乐就没有比这个大的。1:5 亲爱的兄弟啊，凡你向作客旅之弟兄所行的，都是忠心的。1:6 他们在教会面前证明了你的爱。你若配得过 神，帮助他们往前行，这就好了，1:7 因他们是为主的名（注：原文作“那名”）出外，对于外邦人一无所取。1:8 所以我们应该接待这样的人，叫我们与他们一同为真理做工。
从这些经节中我们得知，
一、约翰听到有关该犹的好见证：有弟兄来证明你心里存的真理（第三节），他们在教会面前证明了你的爱（第六节）。在此我们可以明白，
1、关于对该尤的见证——真理存在于他的心里、存在于他信心的真实里、存在于他信仰的虔敬里、存在于他对神的献身里；他，深爱弟兄，对穷人慷慨解囊，热情款待基督陌路，并乐于帮助他们对真理的做工，他的种种仁慈早已家喻户晓。信心凭借爱而做工，在爱的使命里因爱的使命而光芒四射，吸引着众人啧啧称赞其正直诚恳。
2、从该尤那出来的弟兄们做见证。那些亲身受到友好接待的人本就该做见证；虽然对于对行之不易的事奉来说，好名声只是微不足道的酬劳，然而却远比珍稀的药膏更价值连城，真诚且虔敬之人无不为之心醉魂迷。
3、会众或司法是在哪儿给出的汇报和见证——在教会前。也许就是使徒约翰现居的教会。我们无法确认究竟是什么样的教会，也不能断定是在怎样的场合下见证的该尤的信心和爱心的；很可能是触景生情，言由心生；他们情不自禁就传扬了所历所感；也许他们是在教会的祈祷中祝福如此主人万寿无疆喜乐安康，凡事如灵魂一样兴旺。
二、约翰再一次用饱含深情的称呼给出自己的见证：亲爱的兄弟啊，凡你向作客旅之弟兄及陌路所行的，都是忠心的（第五节）。
1、他热情好客，对弟兄关怀备至，对陌路细心周到；他们同属基督是该尤殷勤待客最充分的理由。或者说，该犹对与自己同一教会的弟兄以及那远道而来的弟兄，同样乐善好施；他乐于欢迎/兴高采烈迎接基督家庭的每一位。
2、他显出具有包容一切的情怀，不在乎真基督徒间无谓的分歧，与照基督样式所生并为主做工的所有人都津津乐道。
3、他是兢兢业业的：“亲爱的弟兄阿，凡你向作客旅之弟兄所行的，都是忠心的；你以忠心耿耿的仆人身份做这一切，愿你从主基督那获得继承的犒赏。”如此忠心不二的灵魂，无需炫耀，自会听到褒奖；在我们身上的美好嘉奖，不是为了成就我们的骄狂，而是为了鼓励我们百尺竿头，更进一步。
三、约翰对此无比喜乐，不仅因着美好的见证本身，更是因着对美好见证的美好理由：有弟兄来证明你心里存的真理，正如你按真理而行，我就甚喜乐（第三节）。听说我的儿女们照基督命令行走在真理中，我就欣喜若狂。我们行走在真理中就是我们心怀真理的最好证据啊。善者会为他人灵魂的兴盛而激动不已，闻及人的施恩与善良便兴奋异常。他们这是为上帝增了光啊。爱是不嫉妒，爱是为众人的好名声喝彩。看到儿女们在信仰上展现着虔敬，愿为主献身，顺服的父母真是欣慰，忠心的牧师真是喜乐。
四、关于该犹对与其共处的弟兄们进一步的接待，约翰给出了指导：你若配得过神，帮助他们往前行，这就好了。在那些年代，喜爱跟随做客旅的牧师和基督徒似乎是合乎习俗的，至少在他们某段旅途中是这样的（格林多前书16:6）。对陌生人来说，人为其引路便是慈爱；于旅游者而言，萍水相逢了情投意合的同伴便是幸福：这些都是按神的旨意，以尊敬神，或配得过我们对神的恭顺和与神的关系的方式，可以做的工。基督徒不要只想着该做什么，而要思考能做什么，怎样做最可尊可赞，正所谓：心有多大，舞台就有多宽。即便生命中最微不足道的行为，纵然是最不足挂齿的善意，只要是配得过神的，基督徒都要行，以此来事奉神，彰显神的荣耀。
五、约翰为什么这样指导呢，理由有二：
1、因他们是为主的名出外，对外邦人一无所取。由此可见他们是主内的弟兄，出外是为传讲基督、兴旺福音；甚至，也许他们正是约翰亲自派遣出外的。他们为使外邦人皈依而出外；这可真是绝妙的事奉：他们为神和神的名出外；这是牧师的最高目标，也该是其委托人的主要动机，为要为主的名招聚组建一个民族：他们随身携带无偿的福音，所到之处对出版费分文不取：对外邦人一无所取。这些都是值得我们加倍颂赞的。有人虽没受蒙召亲自传讲福音真道，但可以借着为传道人作贡献而参与其中。对初次受道的人传讲福音本该白白赠送。因为你不能奢望不认识福音的人会尊重福音；教会和众教徒蒙要众志成城向外邦人的邦国传讲圣洁的基督信仰；众心都要按各自的能力齐心协力；那些资财丰饶的主内同仁要扶持那些白白传讲福音的基督仆人。
2、我们当因此接待这样的人，叫我们与他们一同为真理为诚实的信仰做工。基督的制度就是诚实的信仰，早已经由上帝证实，真实的存在于其中并忠实地对其坚持不懈的人，必然对其在全世界的宣传热切渴盼、恒切祷告、并奋斗终生。扶持真理的方式有很多；不能亲自宣扬的也可以通过接待、陪伴、帮助、支持那些亲自宣扬的人而一起为真理做工。--【译】何叶 2012年4月4日 (三) 14:52 (CST)^-^~
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