The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

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:

Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

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.

Greeting to Gaius

The Elder,

To the beloved Gaius, (A)whom I love in truth:

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I (B)rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater (C)joy than to hear that (D)my children walk in [a]truth.

Gaius Commended for Generosity

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren [b]and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, (E)taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to (F)receive[c] such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, (G)prating[d] against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

11 Beloved, (H)do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. (I)He who does good is of God, [e]but he who does evil has not seen (J)God.

12 Demetrius (K)has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also [f]bear witness, (L)and you know that our testimony is true.

Farewell Greeting

13 (M)I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.

Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:4 NU the truth
  2. 3 John 1:5 NU and especially for
  3. 3 John 1:8 NU support
  4. 3 John 1:10 talking nonsense
  5. 3 John 1:11 NU, M omit but
  6. 3 John 1:12 testify

Greeting

(A)The elder to the beloved Gaius, (B)whom I love in truth.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For (C)I rejoiced greatly when the brothers[a] came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that (D)my children are walking in the truth.

Support and Opposition

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for (E)these brothers, (F)strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner (G)worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of (H)the name, (I)accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, (J)do not imitate evil but imitate good. (K)Whoever does good is from God; (L)whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius (M)has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and (N)you know that our testimony is true.

Final Greetings

13 (O)I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, (P)each by name.

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:3 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 5, 10

Se mwen menm, Ansyen[a] an, k ap salye w, Gayis,

zanmi byeneme m nan.

Mwen swete tout bagay ap mache byen pou ou, menm jan nanm ou gen bon sante a. Sa fè m kontan anpil lè kèk frè kretyen te vizite m epi yo te di m ou ap kenbe fèm nan verite a.[b] Pa gen anyen pou ta fèm pi kontan pase lè m tande pitit mwen yo ap mache daprè verite a.

Byeneme, se yon bon bagay pou nou kontinye ede kwayan yo, menm si se moun ou pa menm konnen. Yo temwanye devan legliz la kijan nou genyen lanmou. Tanpri ede frè yo kontinye vwayaj la yon fason ki fè lwanj pou Bondye. Paske yo pati pou fè lwanj pou Kris, san yo pa aksepte anyen nan men moun ki pa kwè yo. Se poutèt sa, nou ta dwe resevwa moun konsa. Lè sa a, nou vin kolaboratè avèk yo nan travay y ap fè pou verite a.

Mwen te ekri legliz la yon lèt. Men, Dyotrèf ki pran tèt pou yon lidè, li refize resevwa l. 10 Pou rezon sa a, lè m a rive bò kote nou m va devwale tout vye zak l ap fè yo. Non sèlman li pa resevwa moun yo, men li menm anpeche lòt moun resevwa yo. Li menm ap eseye mete yo deyò nan legliz la.

11 Zanmi m, pa imite sa ki mal. Imite sa ki bon. Nenpòt moun ki fè sa ki byen se pitit Bondye li ye. Men moun k ap fè sa ki mal pa t janm konnen Bondye.

12 Tout moun yo nan legliz la ap bay bon temwayaj pou Demetriyis. Temwayaj sa a dakò ak verite a. Epi nou menm tou n ap bay temwayaj pou li. Ou konnen sa n ap di yo se verite a.

13 Mwen genyen anpil bagay pou m ta ekri voye ban nou. Men m pa vle ekri yo ak plim epi ak lank. 14 M swete pa twò lontan mwen ka vin wè nou, lè sa a n a pale fasafas. 15 M ap priye Bondye pou li ban nou kè poze. Zanmi yo voye bonjou pou ou. Di chak zanmi m yo endividyèlman mwen voye salye yo.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Ansyen Se petèt apot Jan li menm. “Ansyen” vle di yon mesye aje oubyen yon lidè espesyal nan legliz la (tankou nan Tit 1:5).
  2. 1:3 verite a La verite oubyen “Bòn Nouvèl” konsènan Jezikris ki mare tout kwayan yo ansanm. Se menm bagay la ki nan vèsè 8, 12.