3 John 8 8 Therefore, we ourselves ought to support people such as these, in order that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
John includes himself in a concluding statement reinforcing his desire for Gaius when he received this letter, which may have been delivered by the brothers who came to visit him. The plural subject we ourselves is emphatic and could allude to all believers. The assumption in this verse is that Gaius would take care of the needs of the traveling brothers and strangers of verse 5. These needs could include, at a minimum, food and shelter. Hospitality was an important virtue in the early church, especially for the traveling teachers and emissaries who brought letters and news.
In his two short letters, John distinguishes between the type of reception to give people. False teachers who reject the truth of the gospel should not be welcomed (2 John 11). Whereas those who teach the truth should be welcomed and cared for. Support (hypolambanein) has the sense in this context of something tangible that would meet the traveling needs of the delegates who came from John. Even though Gaius was not directly involved in the mission of going out to new places, he could participate by helping those who were called.
The principle in this verse is significant for the global mission of the church. Those who show hospitality and support, especially financially in our time, become fellow workers (synergoi, “work together”) in the mission. Accountability is incorporated into this sharing because the truth becomes the standard by which someone qualifies to receive the assistance. If someone is not preaching or living the truth, that person does not deserve to receive help from the church. Missionaries, evangelists, and other types of kingdom workers must be tested and prove themselves in order to be supported by other believers. The repetition of the word truth in this letter emphasizes the importance of orthodoxy and orthopraxy.