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3 John
The Message
3 John
The Message
1-4 The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How truly I love you! We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!
Model the Good
5-8 Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It’s good work you’re doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! They set out under the banner of the Name, and get no help from unbelievers. So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth.
9-10 Earlier I wrote something along this line to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves being in charge, denigrates my counsel. If I come, you can be sure I’ll hold him to account for spreading vicious rumors about us.
As if that weren’t bad enough, he not only refuses hospitality to traveling Christians but tries to stop others from welcoming them. Worse yet, instead of inviting them in he throws them out.
11 Friend, don’t go along with evil. Model the good. The person who does good does God’s work. The person who does evil falsifies God, doesn’t know the first thing about God.
12 Everyone has a good word for Demetrius—the Truth itself stands up for Demetrius! We concur, and you know we don’t hand out endorsements lightly.
13-14 I have a lot more things to tell you, but I’d rather not use pen and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk.
Peace to you. The friends here say hello. Greet our friends there by name.
3 Juan
La Biblia de las Américas
3 Juan
La Biblia de las Américas
Saludo
1 El anciano(A) al amado Gayo(B), a quien yo amo en verdad(C).
El buen testimonio de Gayo
2 Amado, ruego que seas prosperado en todo así como prospera tu alma, y que tengas buena salud. 3 Pues me alegré mucho(D) cuando algunos hermanos vinieron y dieron testimonio[a] de tu verdad(E), esto es, de cómo andas en la verdad. 4 No tengo mayor gozo que este: oír[b] que mis hijos(F) andan en la verdad(G).
5 Amado, estás obrando fielmente en lo que haces por los hermanos(H), y sobre todo cuando se trata de extraños(I); 6 pues ellos dan testimonio de tu amor ante la iglesia. Harás bien en ayudarles a proseguir su viaje[c](J) de una manera digna de Dios(K). 7 Pues ellos salieron por amor al Nombre(L), no aceptando nada de los gentiles(M). 8 Por tanto, debemos acoger a tales hombres[d], para que seamos colaboradores en pro de la verdad.
El mal testimonio de Diótrefes
9 Escribí algo a la iglesia, pero Diótrefes, a quien le gusta ser el primero entre ellos(N), no acepta lo que decimos[e]. 10 Por esta razón, si voy(O), llamaré la atención a[f] las obras que hace, acusándonos injustamente con palabras maliciosas; y no satisfecho con esto, él mismo no recibe(P) a los hermanos(Q), se lo prohíbe a los que quieren hacerlo y los expulsa de la iglesia(R).
Elogio de Demetrio
11 Amado, no imites lo malo sino lo bueno(S). El que hace lo bueno es de Dios(T); el que hace lo malo no ha visto a Dios(U). 12 Demetrio tiene[g] buen testimonio de parte de todos(V) y de parte de la verdad misma; también nosotros damos testimonio y tú sabes que nuestro testimonio es verdadero(W).
Despedida
13 Tenía muchas cosas que escribirte(X), pero no quiero escribírtelas con pluma y tinta, 14 pues espero verte en breve y hablaremos cara a cara[h].
15 La paz sea contigo(Y). Los amigos te saludan. Saluda a los amigos, a cada uno por nombre(Z).
Footnotes
- 3 Juan 1:3 O, me alegro mucho cuando algunos hermanos vienen y dan testimonio
- 3 Juan 1:4 Lit., que estas cosas, que oigo
- 3 Juan 1:6 O, proveerles para el viaje
- 3 Juan 1:8 O, recibir a tales hombres como invitados
- 3 Juan 1:9 Lit., no nos acepta
- 3 Juan 1:10 Lit., le recordaré
- 3 Juan 1:12 Lit., ha recibido
- 3 Juan 1:14 Lit., boca a boca
3 John
New International Version
3 John
New International Version
1 The elder,(A)
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers(B) came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.(C) 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children(D) are walking in the truth.(E)
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a](F) even though they are strangers to you.(G) 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way(H) in a manner that honors(I) God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name(J) that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.(K) 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come,(L) I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers.(M) He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.(N)
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.(O) Anyone who does what is good is from God.(P) Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.(Q) 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone(R)—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.(S)
13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.(T)
15 Peace to you.(U) The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.(V)
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:5 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
3 John
King James Version
3 John
King James Version
1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.