3 John
Wycliffe Bible
1 The elder man to Gaius, most dear brother [most dear], whom I love in truth.
2 Most dear brother, of all things I make prayer, that thou enter, and fare wellfully, as thy soul doeth wellfully.[a]
3 I joyed [full] greatly, for brethren came, and bare witnessing to thy truth, as thou walkest in truth.
4 I have not more grace of these things, than that I hear that my sons walk in truth.
5 Most dear brother, thou doest faithfully, whatever thou workest in brethren [Most dear, thou doest faithfully, whatever thou workest into brethren], and that into pilgrims,
6 which yielded witnessing to thy charity, in the sight of the church; which thou leadest forth [whom thou leadest forth], and doest well-worthily to God.
7 For they went forth for his name, and took nothing of heathen men. [Soothly for his name they went forth, nothing taking of heathen men.]
8 Therefore we owe to receive such, that we be even-workers of truth.
9 I had written peradventure to the church, but this Diotrephes, that loveth to bear primacy in them [that loveth for to bear primacy, or chief places, in them], receiveth not us.
10 For this thing, if I shall come, I shall admonish his works, which he doeth, chiding against us with evil words[b]. And as if these things suffice not to him, neither he receiveth brethren, and forbiddeth them that receive, and putteth out of the church [and casteth out of the church].
11 Most dear brother [Most dear], do not thou follow evil thing, but that that is good thing. He that doeth well, is of God; he that doeth evil, seeth not God.
12 Witnessing is yielded to Demetrius of all men, and of truth itself; but also we bear witnessing, and thou knowest, that our witnessing is true.
13 I had many things to write to thee, but I would not write to thee by ink and pen.
14 For I hope soon to see thee, and we shall speak mouth to mouth. Peace be to thee. Friends greet thee well. Greet thou well friends by name.
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:2 Most dear, of all things I make prayer, that thou enter, and fare wellsomely, as thy soul fareth wellsomely.
- 3 John 1:10 garring, or chiding/chattering against us with evil words
3 John
New Matthew Bible
He is glad of Gaius, that he walks in the truth. He exhorts them to be loving to the poor Christians in their persecution, and speaks of the unkind dealing of Diotrephes, and the good report of Demetrius.
1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Beloved, I wish in all things that you prospered and fared well, even as your soul prospers. 3 I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, how you walk in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren, and for strangers, 6 who bear witness of your love before all the congregation. Which brethren, when you bring them forwards on their journey (as it befits God), you will do well, 7 because for his name’s sake they went forth, and took nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such brethren, so that we also may be helpers of the truth.
9 I wrote to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, will not receive us. 10 And so if I come, I will declare the things he does, scoffing on us with malicious words. And he is not content with that. Not only does he himself not receive the brethren, he also forbids those who would, and thrusts them out of the congregation.
11 Beloved, do not follow that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does well is of God, but he who does evil does not see God.
12 Demetrius has a good report from all men, and from the truth. Yea and we ourselves also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true.
13 I have many things to write, but I do not wish to write with ink and pen to you. 14 For I trust I will shortly see you, and we shall speak mouth to mouth.
15 Peace be with you.
The friends send you greetings.
Greet the friends
by name.
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
Authorized (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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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