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Help Christians Who Teach Truth

From the Elder [or old man; C Greek: presbyteros, referring to advanced age, a church office, or both; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:1; see 2 John 1].

To ·my dear friend [L the beloved] Gaius [C an otherwise unknown Christian leader], whom I love in the truth [C the truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ]:

·My dear friend [L Beloved], I pray that you are ·doing well [prospering] in ·every way [all respects] and that your health is good, just as ·your soul is doing fine [it is well with your soul; your soul is prospering]. [L For] I was very happy when some brothers and sisters came and ·told me [testified] about the truth in your life and how you are ·following [L walking in] the way of truth [2 John 4]. Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children [C members of the church under his spiritual care] are ·following the way of truth [walking in the truth].

·My dear friend [L Beloved], ·it is good that [you are living out your faith when] you help the brothers and sisters, even those ·you do not know [L who are strangers]. They ·told [testified before] the church about your love. ·Please help them [You will do well] to continue their trip [C as missionaries] in a way worthy of God. [L For] They ·started out in service to Christ [L departed for the sake of the name], and they have been accepting ·nothing [no support] from nonbelievers [L Gentiles; pagans]. So we should ·help [show hospitality to; support] such people; when we do, we ·share in their work [become coworkers] for the truth.

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be ·their leader [first], will not ·listen to us [receive us; or accept our authority]. 10 So if I come, I will ·talk about [call to mind; bring attention to] what Diotrephes [C nothing further is known about this man] is doing, about how he ·lies and says evil things about us [slanders us with evil/malicious words]. But ·more than [not satisfied with] that, he refuses to ·accept [welcome; receive] the other brothers and sisters; he even ·stops [prevents] those who do want to ·accept [welcome; receive] them and ·puts them out of [expels them from] the church.

11 ·My dear friend [Beloved], do not ·follow [imitate] what is ·bad [evil]; ·follow [imitate] what is good [1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 2 Thess. 3:7; Heb. 6:12; 13:7]. The one who does good ·belongs to [is from] God. But the one who does evil has never ·known [L seen] God.

12 Everyone ·says [witnesses/testifies to] good things about Demetrius [C likely the bearer of the letter to Gaius; otherwise unknown], and the truth agrees with what they say. We also ·speak [witness; testify] well of him, and you know ·what we say [our witness/testimony] is true.

13 I have many things I want to write you, but I do not want to use pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon and talk face to face. 15 Peace to you. The friends here greet you. Please greet each friend there by name [2 John 12–13].

From the ho elder presbyteros, to Gaius Gaios my ho dear brother agapētos, whom hos I egō love agapaō in en truth alētheia.

Dear friend agapētos, I pray euchomai that in peri every way pas you sy may prosper euodoō and kai be in good health hygiainō, just as kathōs your sy soul psychē is prospering euodoō. · ho For gar I rejoiced chairō greatly lian when the brothers adelphos came erchomai and kai testified martyreō to your sy fidelity to the ho truth alētheia, as kathōs indeed you sy do walk peripateō in en the truth alētheia. I have echō no ou greater joy chara than this houtos: to hina hear akouō that · ho my emos children teknon are walking peripateō in en the ho truth alētheia.

Dear brother agapētos, you are poieō faithful pistos in what hos you are doing ergazomai for eis the ho brothers adelphos, even though kai they houtos are strangers xenos. They hos have testified martyreō to your sy · ho love agapē before enōpion the church ekklēsia. You will do poieō well kalōs to help them hos on their way propempō in a manner worthy axiōs of ho God theos, because gar they set out exerchomai for the sake hyper of the ho Name onoma, accepting lambanō nothing mēdeis from apo · ho nonbelievers ethnikos. Therefore oun we hēmeis ought opheilō to show hospitality hypolambanō to ho such men toioutos, so that hina we may be ginomai coworkers synergos for the ho truth alētheia.

I sent graphō a tis letter to the ho church ekklēsia, but alla Diotrephes Diotrephēs, who ho likes to be in charge philoprōteuō, does not ou acknowledge epidechomai our hēmeis authority . 10 For dia this reason houtos, should ean I come erchomai, I will bring up hypomimnēskō the ho things ergon he is doing poieō, disparaging phlyareō us hēmeis with malicious ponēros talk logos. And kai not satisfied arkeō with epi that houtos, he autos refuses oute to welcome epidechomai the ho brothers adelphos. He kōlyō even kai prevents kōlyō those ho who would like to boulomai and kai puts ekballō them out of ek the ho church ekklēsia.

11 Dear friend agapētos, do not imitate mimeomai what ho is evil kakos but alla what ho is good agathos. The ho one who does good agathopoieō is eimi of ek · ho God theos; the ho one who does evil kakopoieō has not ou seen horaō · ho God theos. 12 Everyone pas has testified martyreō favorably regarding Demetrius Dēmētrios, and kai so has the ho truth alētheia itself autos. And de we hēmeis testify martyreō for him as well kai, and kai you know oida that hoti · ho our hēmeis testimony martyria is eimi true alēthēs.

13 I have echō many things polys to write graphō to you sy, but alla I do not ou wish thelō to write graphō with dia ink melas and kai pen kalamos. 14 But de I hope elpizō to see you sy in the near future eutheōs, and kai we will speak laleō face stoma to pros face stoma. 15 Peace eirēnē to you sy. The ho friends philos here send you sy greetings aspazomai. Greet aspazomai the ho friends philos there by kata name onoma.