Matthew Henry

7-8

The visitors were ministers to the Gentiles, working to make a people for God. In their work, they accepted no support from those they preached to, rather being supported by those that already knew the value of the Gospel. Those who are not called to minister in word can still minister in provision. In helping the proclaimers of true religion, we further the truth. This cannot help but be the desire and prayer of any who can truly claim true religion. We may not be equipped to go, but we can still help those who are so equipped in any number of ways.

 

 

Adam Clarke

7

The travelers went out to make Jesus known to the pagan, never charging for their efforts. But the worker is worthy of his pay, and ought to be well supported by the church. An alternative interpretation of this verse would suggest that the travelers had been driven out by the Gentiles, and had therefor forfeited their property, arriving at Gaius' church without any provision whatsoever.

8

We ought to be willing to step in and help all who have been persecuted for righteousness, and confessed the truth at risk of their own lives. This both encourages the persecuted one to perseverance, and aids the spread of the Gospel of salvation.

 

 

Barnes

7

They journeyed for God's purposes, not their own. The reference is to the journey which brought them with this letter, not a previous journey. They chose not to take contribution from the pagans they were trying to reach, as that would lead to being seen as mercenary in nature. Rather, they depended on the support of those Christians they ministered among, which is right and proper. (1Co 9:1-18 - Paul points out the Scriptural basis for supporting the ministry, as well as noting that he took no advantage of that support, himself.)

8

It is noteworthy that those whose aid Gaius was being asked to provide asked not for themselves, nor came expecting such support as their due. Their work was of pure benevolence. In supporting those who go forth to the field, we are co-workers with them.

 

 

Wycliffe

8

Three reasons are given for supporting these travelers: they journeyed for Christ's sake (Ac 5:41 - The apostles suffered for His Name's sake. Jas 2:7 - The rich malign the name / reputation of those they contest with.); they took no support from the unconverted, making the support of believers more needful; such support makes us fellow workers for the truth. Given our claims to being Christians, it ought to follow naturally that we support His messengers. (1Jn 2:6 - just as our claims of abiding in Him ought to indicate that we walk as He walked.)

 

 

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

7

They went as missionaries for Christ, refusing the support they had right to among the unconverted. (1Co 9:12-15 - Like Paul, they don't take such support so that their doing so cannot be used as a reason for rejecting the Gospel. 1Th 2:6-9 - Paul went so far as to work the harder while traveling, to provide for himself and present no burden to his audience.) Gentiles, in this case, must refer to recent converts from among the pagans, as Gaius was a pagan convert, himself, but more established. The idea is that newly established Gentile churches had offered support, but the missionaries had chosen to take nothing from them, that they might not hinder the growth of these churches. Gaius, being more established, was in a position to provide where these new churches were not able.

8

Being as they don't take such support, it is reasonable to expect the established Christians to provide their support. Thus, we promote the truth with them.

 

 

New Thoughts (4/26/00)

So, the Gentiles were either freshly converted, or yet to be converted pagans. That no support was taken from among them was not an act of maintaining Jewish purity, it was a care taken to leave no handhold for Satan. No doubt could be planted in the minds of their hearers as to their motives. Would that more ministries today understood the implications of this. How much of the shame that comes upon the church thanks to the power of media evangelists comes of ignoring this passage? Lord, I would that these "heroes" would once offer the Gospel free of appeals. It's clear that those spoken of here knew the gist of the letter they bore, if not the specific content. They knew that they came among friends with the recommendations of a trusted advisor. But, they also knew that there were no guarantees. The state of the early church was still highly unpredictable, one never knew how strong they'd be when one arrived. So, in spite of the seeming assurance of traveling with letters in hand, it was still an act of faith on their part to refuse any support coming of new converts, and trust themselves to the provision of others. Lord, more and more I feel drawn to remove support from these huge mail-in campaigns for political actions. Our finances are better used promoting those who freely offer the Gospel - the great and wonderful news that salvation can be had. I pray that You increase our opportunities to support such workers, and not only in finance, but in hospitality. Help us to open this house not just to the needy of our family, but to the use of Your ambassadors.