3 John
New Testament for Everyone
Hospitality for God’s people
1 The Elder to beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that all is going well with you, and that you are every bit as healthy physically as you are spiritually. 3 I was absolutely delighted, you see, when some of the family arrived and bore witness to your truthfulness, since clearly you are walking in the truth. 4 Nothing gives me greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Beloved, when you are doing all that you do for family members, even when they are strangers, you are doing a faithful work. 6 These people have borne witness to your love in the presence of the assembly, and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 They went out for the sake of the Name, not accepting help from outsiders. 8 We ought to support people like that, so that we may become fellow workers with the truth.
Authority and example
9 I have written something to the assembly. But Diotrephes, who wants to be the most important person there, refuses to acknowledge us. 10 So, then, if I come, I will refer back to what he has done, and the slanderous words he has spoken against us. Not being satisfied with that, he doesn’t welcome family members himself; and, when others want to do so, he forbids them and throws them out of the assembly.
11 Beloved, don’t imitate evil; imitate good! Someone who does good is from God; someone who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has been well attested by everybody, and by the truth itself. We join in this testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I have much to write to you, but I don’t want to do it with pen and ink. 14 I am hoping instead to see you very soon, so that we can talk face to face.
15 Peace be with you. All the friends greet you. Greet all the friends by name.
3 John
Common English Bible
Greeting
1 From the elder.
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I truly love.
2 Dear friend, I’m praying that all is well with you and that you enjoy good health in the same way that you prosper spiritually.
Encouragement for Gaius
3 I was overjoyed when the brothers and sisters arrived and spoke highly of your faithfulness to the truth, shown by how you live according to the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth. 5 Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for our brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers. 6 They spoke highly of your love in front of the church. You all would do well to provide for their journey in a way that honors God, 7 because they left on their journey for the sake of Jesus Christ without accepting any support from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore, we ought to help people like this so that we can be coworkers with the truth.
Criticism of Diotrephes
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, doesn’t welcome us. 10 Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what he has done—making unjustified and wicked accusations against us. And as if that were not enough, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers and sisters but stops those who want to do so and even throws them out of the church! 11 Dear friend, don’t imitate what is bad but what is good. Whoever practices what is good belongs to God. Whoever practices what is bad has not seen God.
Approval of Demetrius
12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, even the truth itself. We also speak highly of him, and you know that what we say is true.
Final greeting
13 I have a lot to say to you, but I don’t want to use pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face-to-face.
15 Peace be with you. Your friends here greet you. Greet our friends there by name.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible