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3 John
1599 Geneva Bible
3 John
1599 Geneva Bible
The Third Epistle of John
1 He commendeth Gaius for hospitality, 9 and reprehendeth Diotrephes for vainglory: 10 he exhorteth Gaius to continue in well doing: 12 and in the end commendeth Demetrius.
1 The [a]Elder unto the beloved Gaius whom I love in the truth.
2 Beloved, I wish chiefly that thou prosperedst and faredst well as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I rejoiceth greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, how thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than [b]these, that is, to hear that my sons walk in verity.
5 Beloved, thou doest [c]faithfully, whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers,
6 Which bore witness of thy love before the Churches, Whom if thou [d]bringest on their journey as it seemeth according to God, thou shalt do well,
7 Because that for his Name’s sake they went forth, and took nothing of the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be [e]helpers to the truth.
9 [f]I wrote unto the Church, but Diotrephes which loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore if I come, I will call to your remembrance his deeds which he doeth, prattling against us with malicious words, and not therewith content, neither he himself receiveth the brethren, but forbideth them that would, and thrusteth them out of the Church.
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good: he that doeth well is of God: but he that doeth evil, hath not [g]seen God.
12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we ourselves bear record, and ye know that our record is true.
13 I have many things to write: but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
14 For I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak mouth to mouth. Peace be with thee. The friends salute thee. Greet thy friends by name.
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:1 An example of a Christian gratulation.
- 3 John 1:4 Than these joys.
- 3 John 1:5 As becometh a believer and a Christian.
- 3 John 1:6 He commendeth to Gaius either those selfsame men whom he had entertained before, returning now again to him about the affairs of the Church, or else some other which had like business.
- 3 John 1:8 That we ourselves may help somewhat to the preaching of the truth.
- 3 John 1:9 Ambition and covetousness, two pestilent plagues (especially in them which have any Ecclesiastical function) are condemned in Diotrephes’ person.
- 3 John 1:11 Hath not known God.
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.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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