An Introduction Towards a Theology of Raising Support Part II

One of the shortest books of the Bible is 3rd John. It is a letter from the apostle John to his dear friend, Gaius, who is in a different church. John praises Gaius for supporting missionaries by showing hospitality to them and financially supporting them in their missionary activities.

3 John 5-8
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

John praises Gaius's faithfulness from a good report that some visitors gave at John's church of Gaius's hospitality. These visitors just came from Gaius. John encourages Gaius to continue to show hospitality by sending itinerant missionaries on their way. Sending missionaries on their way in New Testament times meant more than a hearty handshake and a wave goodbye. Colin G. Kruse explains what "sending them on their way" meant in the early church.

The expression 'to send them on their way' translates a form of the verb propempo. This verb functioned as a technical term for missionary support in the early church (cf. Acts 15:3; 20:38; 21:5; Rom 15:24; 1 Cor 16:6, 11; 2 Cor 1:16; Tit 3:13), and this is also its function here. These "brothers" were preachers of the truth as it was heard at the beginning, and so it was appropriate to send them on their way as faithful missionaries 'in a manner worthy of God'. This probably means to send them on their way in a manner befitting those who serve the living God. (The Letters of John, p. 223)

Zane Hodges in the The Bible Knowledge Commentary makes the following observations on verse 8.

But the fact that faithful Christian preachers sought no help from the unsaved meant that Christians were under a special obligation to assist them. By extending the needed help (showing hospitality to such men), Christians such as Gaius could work together for the truth. This last phrase might be better rendered "be fellow workers with the truth" (NASB). The thought is of partnership with what the truth accomplishes in people's hearts and lives. It was a noble objective for Gaius to follow. (p. 913)

I want to make a few observations. First, the apostle John is praising Gaius for not only opening his home for missionaries as they traveled, but also for giving them financial support to help them during their travels and to help them as they ministered. We can conclude that it is not only the local church who supports missionaries through their missionary budget, but individual believers as well. John praises Gaius individually for his support of the missionaries. This support is worthy a responsibility to be taken up for every member of the local church. The giver becomes a fellow worker with the missionary. To use the idiomatic phrase as explained earlier, missionaries and supporters become fellow workers with "The Truth."

Second, this term "fellow worker" is also used several times by Paul as a title of esteem and affection for those who helped him progress the gospel. [1]. The very fact that both Paul and John use this term to honor the people who financially and materially support the missionaries should draw our attention. This honoring by the apostles helps us to realize how important the Bible views missionary support in terms of prayer and material support. It is a effort worthy of praise.

Third, hospitality in the New Testament means more than opening up your house to relatives. Malina,  a New Testament scholar,  writes writes about hospitality,

'might be defined as the process by means of which an outsider's status is changed from stranger to guest.' [2]

Although, in our day and age, we have hotels, inns, B&Bs, and other places where strangers can stay, the command; however, is still in effect to show hospitality when called upon by the Church.

Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Romans 12:13
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality..

[1] Romans 16:3, 9, 21; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25; Philemon 1:1, 24

[2] Malina, 'The Received View and What it Cannot Do', p. 181