What does 3 John 1:5 mean?

3 John 1:5 (KJV) reads: "Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers." It sits in 3 John chapter 1, a piece of short letter on hospitality from the New Testament, and is most often read as a verse about welcome. The meaning sharpens when you read the verses immediately around it and notice how 3 John as a whole is arguing its case.

What is the context of 3 John 1:5 in 3 John?

3 John 1:5 belongs to 3 John 1, which fits inside 3 John's wider message as short letter on hospitality. Before applying the verse, read at least the paragraph it appears in so you can see who is speaking, who is being addressed, and what situation prompted the words.

Is 3 John 1:5 from the Old or New Testament?

3 John 1:5 is from the New Testament — specifically the book of 3 John, chapter 1. That matters because New Testament verses are written after the resurrection and speak directly into the life of the church under the new covenant.

What translation of 3 John 1:5 is used here?

Every verse on Bible Sundays is quoted from the King James Version (KJV), the public-domain English translation first published in 1611. We use the KJV consistently so the wording you memorise on one page matches the wording on every other page of the site.

How can I memorise 3 John 1:5?

Read 3 John 1:5 aloud three times, write it out by hand once, then try to recite it from memory. Repeat morning and evening for a week. Pair it with the theme of welcome so your mind has a natural retrieval cue. Reviewing on day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 30 locks it in for the long term.

How should I apply 3 John 1:5 today?

Identify one specific situation in the next 24 hours — a conversation, a decision, a fear, a temptation around welcome — where 3 John 1:5 should change your response. Pray the verse back to God for that situation, then act on it. Application is what turns reading into obedience.

Welcome Card Verse

3 John 1:5 for Welcome Cards

A free, printable, share-ready KJV card verse. Pick a theme, download as a high-resolution image, or copy the text for handwritten cards.

For Welcome

“Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers.”

3 John 1:5

King James Versionbiblesundays.com

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Why 3 John 1:5 works for welcome cards

Faithful welcome of both known and unknown — comprehensive hospitality.

"Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers."

Read 3 John 1 (KJV) →

How to use this welcome card

Pick a theme above that matches the recipient's taste — botanical for weddings and showers, midnight for solemn occasions, kraft for rustic.
Download the PNG at 1200×1500 — Pinterest-optimized and high enough resolution for printing on standard 5×7 cardstock.
Send digitally via text, email, or social, or print and pair with a handwritten note inside.
Reference the chapter — readers often want to look up the surrounding context. Tap the link above to read 3 John 1 in the KJV.

More Welcome card verses

Romans 15:7

"Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."

Hebrews 13:2

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Matthew 25:35

"For I was a stranger, and ye took me in."

Psalm 133:1

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Ephesians 2:19

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God."

1 Peter 4:9

"Use hospitality one to another without grudging."

Isaiah 41:10

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God."

Philippians 1:3

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

See all 11 welcome card verses →