... The verb propempein, ‘to send forward,’ in this context has almost a technical sense of providing missionaries with supplies that would enable them to journey to the next stop (Acts 15:3; 1 Corinthians 16:6, 11; 2 Corinthians 1:16; Titus 3:13; Romans 15:24). Polycarp, Philippians 1:1, sees the action described by this verb as a manifestation of love: ‘I rejoice greatly with you in the Lord Jesus Christ that you have followed the pattern of true love and have sent forward on their way those who were bound in chains.’ In a way worthy of God. It is not clear whether this adverbial expression modifies what Gaius is to do (outfit the journey), or what the missionaries are to do (make the journey), or both (most likely). In any case the journey must be worthy of its goal, which is about to be explained in verse 7. The language throughout this passage probably stems from Christian paraenesis. In 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, when he is exhorting and consoling as a father does his own children, Paul writes, ‘You are to walk worthily of God’ — an impressive parallel since in 3 John 4 the Presbyter has rejoiced that his ‘children are walking in the truth’ and now he is urging such a child to help others on their journey ‘in a way worthy of God.’ ...