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3 John
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
3 John
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth[a].
May You Prosper In All Things, Just As Your Soul Is Prospering Because You Walk In The Truth
2 Beloved, I pray[b] that with respect to all things you may prosper and be healthy, just as your soul is prospering. 3 For I rejoiced greatly while brothers were coming and testifying concerning your truth— how[c] you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no joy greater than these things: that I may be hearing-of my children walking in the truth.
Beloved, Support Fellow Workers For The Truth
5 Beloved, you are doing a faithful thing— whatever you may accomplish[d]— for the brothers (and this, for strangers!) 6 who testified concerning your love before the church, as to whom you will do well having sent-them-forward worthily of God. 7 For they went out for the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to be supporting such ones, in order that we may be[e] fellow-workers[f] for the truth.
Diotrephes Is Not Accepting Us. Beloved, Imitate The One Doing Good
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, the one loving-to-be-first[g] among them, is not accepting[h] us. 10 For this reason, if I come I will call-to-mind[i] his deeds which he is doing— talking-nonsense-about[j] us with malicious words. And not being content with these things, neither is he himself accepting the brothers. And he is forbidding and putting-out[k] of the church the ones wanting to do so. 11 Beloved, do not be imitating the evil, but the good. The one doing-good is from God. The one doing-evil has not seen God.
Demetrius Is Attested By Everyone
12 With regard to Demetrius, he has been attested by everyone, and by the truth itself. And we also are testifying, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I had many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with ink and pen. 14 But I hope to see you at-once, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:1 Or, in the truth, in-connection-with the truth.
- 3 John 1:2 I pray... be healthy. Or, I pray that you may prosper with respect to all things, and be healthy.
- 3 John 1:3 Or, just as, in as much as.
- 3 John 1:5 Or, do, carry out, work out.
- 3 John 1:8 Or, become.
- 3 John 1:8 Or, co-workers.
- 3 John 1:9 Or, loving-to-have-preeminence.
- 3 John 1:9 Or, receiving.
- 3 John 1:10 Or, remember.
- 3 John 1:10 Or, more formally, bringing-unjustified-charges-against.
- 3 John 1:10 Or, expelling, driving-out.
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.
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) 
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.