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Tending the Flock of God

Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you(A)

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To the Elders and the Flock

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder(A) and a witness(B) of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:(C)

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for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.(A) When Christ who is your[a] life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.4 Other authorities read our

For you died,(A) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life,(B) appears,(C) then you also will appear with him in glory.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our

17 and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we in fact suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.(A)

Future Glory

18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.

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17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs(A)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings(B) in order that we may also share in his glory.(C)

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(D)

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48 You are witnesses[a] of these things.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 24.48 Or nations. Beginning from Jerusalem you are witnesses

48 You are witnesses(A) of these things.

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A Vision of Christ

I, John, your brother who share with you the persecution and the kingdom and the endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.9 Or testimony to Jesus

John’s Vision of Christ

I, John,(A) your brother and companion in the suffering(B) and kingdom(C) and patient endurance(D) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God(E) and the testimony of Jesus.(F)

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Salutation

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth,(A) because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from[a] Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.(B)

Truth and Love

I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment but one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another.(C) And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it.(D)

Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist!(E) Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we[b] have worked for but may receive a full reward.(F) Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it,[c] does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching[d] has both the Father and the Son.(G) 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive and welcome this person into your house,(H) 11 for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.(I)

Final Greetings

12 Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead, I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our[e] joy may be complete.(J)

13 The children of your elect sister send you their greetings.[f]

Salutation

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Gaius Commended for His Hospitality

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. For I was overjoyed when some brothers and sisters arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, how you walk in the truth.(K) I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.(L)

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you;(M) they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God,(N) for they began their journey for the sake of Christ,[g] accepting no support from nonbelievers.[h](O) Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become coworkers with the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not welcome us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the brothers and sisters and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church.(P)

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.(Q) 12 Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth[i] itself. We also testify for him,[j] and you know that our testimony is true.(R)

Final Greetings

13 I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write to you with pen and ink;(S) 14 instead, I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.

15 Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.(T)

Footnotes

  1. 3 Other ancient authorities add the Lord
  2. 8 Other ancient authorities read you
  3. 9 Other ancient authorities read turns aside
  4. 9 Other ancient authorities add of Christ
  5. 12 Other ancient authorities read your
  6. 13 Other ancient authorities add Amen
  7. 7 Gk for the sake of the name
  8. 7 Gk the gentiles
  9. 12 Other ancient authorities read church or church and truth
  10. 12 Gk lacks for him

The elder,(A)

To the lady chosen by God(B) and to her children, whom I love in the truth(C)—and not I only, but also all who know the truth(D) because of the truth,(E) which lives in us(F) and will be with us forever:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ,(G) the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth,(H) just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning.(I) I ask that we love one another. And this is love:(J) that we walk in obedience to his commands.(K) As you have heard from the beginning,(L) his command is that you walk in love.

I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ(M) as coming in the flesh,(N) have gone out into the world.(O) Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.(P) Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.(Q) Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ(R) does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.(S) 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.(T) 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares(U) in their wicked work.

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face,(V) so that our joy may be complete.(W)

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God,(X) send their greetings.

The elder,(Y)

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

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. It gave me great joy when some believers(Z) came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.(AA) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children(AB) are walking in the truth.(AC)

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[b](AD) even though they are strangers to you.(AE) They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way(AF) in a manner that honors(AG) God. It was for the sake of the Name(AH) that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.(AI) We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come,(AJ) 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.(AK) He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.(AL)

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.(AM) Anyone who does what is good is from God.(AN) Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.(AO) 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone(AP)—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.(AQ)

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.(AR)

15 Peace to you.(AS) The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts you
  2. 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.

And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.(A)

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And when the Chief Shepherd(A) appears, you will receive the crown of glory(B) that will never fade away.(C)

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24 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me with honor.[a](A)
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 73.24 Or to glory

24 You guide(A) me with your counsel,(B)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?(C)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.(D)

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Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he[a] is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 3.2 Or it

Dear friends,(A) now we are children of God,(B) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a](C) we shall be like him,(D) for we shall see him as he is.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:2 Or when it is made known

so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.(A)

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These have come so that the proven genuineness(A) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(B)—may result in praise, glory and honor(C) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(D)

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The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers and sisters of gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

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The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and elders,(A) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(B) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(C) men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch,(D) Syria(E) and Cilicia:(F)

Greetings.(G)

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30 this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.(A)

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30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders(A) by Barnabas(B) and Saul.(C)

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12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look!(A)

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12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,(A) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you(B) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.(C) Even angels long to look into these things.

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