约翰三书
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
1 我这做长老的写信给亲爱的该犹，就是我本着真理所爱的人。 2 亲爱的弟兄，衷心地祝你凡事顺利，身体和灵魂一样健康。
该犹的好品行
3 有弟兄们来为你的行为做见证，说你忠心地遵行真理，这使我非常欣慰。 4 没有比听见自己的孩子遵行真理更使我欢喜了。
5 亲爱的弟兄，你常常忠心地照顾素不相识的弟兄， 6 他们把你的爱心告诉了教会。愿你照着上帝所喜悦的方式继续帮助他们， 7 因为他们为了主耶稣的名四处传道，不收取非信徒的任何东西。 8 我们应该接待这样的人，好与他们一同传扬真理。
丢特腓的恶行
9 我曾写信给你那里的教会，但喜欢做领袖的丢特腓不理会我们。 10 因此，我若去你们那里，会提及他的所作所为，就是他怎样恶言中伤我们。不仅如此，他还拒绝接待弟兄，并且禁止别人接待，甚至将接待的人赶出教会。
抑恶扬善
11 亲爱的弟兄，不要效法罪恶，要效法美善。行善的人属于上帝，行恶的人不认识上帝。 12 低米丢得到了众人的好评，真理本身也为他做见证，我们也为他做见证。你们知道我们的见证是真实的。
结语
13 我本来有很多事想跟你谈，但不想用笔墨写给你， 14 只希望可以快快地见到你，跟你当面畅谈。
15 祝你平安！这里的朋友们都问候你，请代我一一问候你那边的朋友。
3 John
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
1 [a]The Presbyter to the beloved Gaius whom I love in truth.(A)
2 Beloved, I hope you are prospering in every respect and are in good health, just as your soul is prospering. 3 I rejoiced greatly when some of the brothers[b] came and testified to how truly you walk in the truth.(B) 4 Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.(C)
5 Beloved, you are faithful in all you do[c] for the brothers, especially for strangers;(D) 6 they have testified to your love before the church.(E) Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey.[d] 7 For they have set out for the sake of the Name[e] and are accepting nothing from the pagans. 8 Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to dominate,[f] does not acknowledge us. 10 Therefore, if I come,[g] I will draw attention to what he is doing, spreading evil nonsense about us. And not content with that, he will not receive the brothers, hindering those who wish to do so and expelling them from the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil[h] but imitate good. Whoever does what is good is of God; whoever does what is evil has never seen God.(F) 12 Demetrius[i] receives a good report from all, even from the truth itself. We give our testimonial as well, and you know our testimony is true.(G)
13 I have much to write to you, but I do not wish to write with pen and ink.(H) 14 Instead, I hope to see you soon, when we can talk face to face. 15 Peace be with you. The friends greet you; greet the friends[j] there each by name.(I)
Footnotes
- 1 Beloved Gaius: a frequent form of address for fellow Christians in New Testament epistolary literature.
- 3 The brothers: in this letter, the term may refer to Christians who have been missionaries and received hospitality from Gaius (3 Jn 5–6). Walk in the truth: the common Johannine term to describe Christian living; this description presents Gaius as following the teachings of the Presbyter in contrast to Diotrephes.
- 5 You are faithful in all you do: Gaius’s aid to the missionaries is a manifestation of his true Christian faith.
- 6 Help them…to continue their journey: the Presbyter asks Gaius not only to continue to welcome the missionaries to his community but also to equip them for further travels.
- 7 The Name: of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 5:41; 1 Jn 2:12; 3:23; 5:13). Accepting nothing: not expecting support from the pagans to whom they preach the gospel, so that they will not be considered as beggars; they required support from other Christians; cf. Paul’s complaints to the Corinthians (1 Cor 9:3–12).
- 9 Who loves to dominate: the Presbyter does not deny Diotrephes’ place as leader but indicates that his ambition may have caused him to disregard his letter and his influence.
- 10 If I come: the Presbyter may visit the community to challenge the actions of Diotrephes toward himself and the missionaries. Will not receive the brothers: Diotrephes may have been critical of the teachings of the Presbyter and sought to maintain doctrinal purity; cf. 1 Jn 2:19 and 2 Jn 10–11.
- 11 Do not imitate evil: Gaius should not be influenced by the behavior of Diotrephes.
- 12 Demetrius: because of the fear of false teachers, Demetrius, perhaps the bearer of the letter, is provided with a recommendation from the Presbyter; cf. 2 Cor 3:1; Rom 16:1. Even from the truth itself: this refers probably to the manner of Demetrius’s life that testifies to his true belief; cf. Gaius above (3 Jn 3).
- 15 Friends: although a Johannine term for Christians (Jn 15:15), the word here may refer to those in the community loyal to the Presbyter and to Gaius.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.