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The Joys of Walking Out the Truth

The elder.

To Gaius the loved one, whom I love in truth:

Loved ones, 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 brethren came and testified of the truth in you—how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this—to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Support Faithful Kingdom Truth Tellers

Loved ones, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brethren and especially for strangers. [a] They have testified to your love before Messiah’s community. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For on behalf of the Name they went out, accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore we ought to support such people, so we might become co-workers in the truth.

The Lust for Power Condemned

I wrote something to Messiah’s community, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t welcome us. 10 So if I do come, I will call attention to what he is doing—slandering us with wicked words. Not even content with that, he refuses to welcome the brethren, and even forbids those who want to do so—throwing them out of the community!

Do Good Like God Does

11 Loved ones, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

Virtue Is Honorable

12 Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, even from the truth itself. We also vouch for him—and you know that our testimony is true.

Fellowship Is Desirable

13 I have much to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with ink and pen. 14 But I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face.

15 Shalom aleichem. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

Saudações

Eu, o presbítero,[a] escrevo a Gaio, meu amigo querido, a quem amo na verdade.

Amado, espero que você esteja bem e fisicamente tão sadio quanto é forte em espírito. Alguns dos irmãos regressaram e me deixaram muito alegre quando falaram de sua fidelidade e de como você vive de acordo com a verdade. Eu não poderia ter maior alegria que saber que meus filhos têm seguido a verdade.

Incentivo a Gaio

Amado, você é fiel quando cuida dos irmãos que passam por aí, embora não os conheça. Eles falaram à igreja daqui a respeito de sua amizade afetuosa. Peço que continue a suprir as necessidades deles de modo agradável a Deus. Pois eles viajam a serviço do Senhor[b] e não aceitam coisa alguma dos que são de fora.[c] Assim, nós mesmos devemos sustentá-los, a fim de nos tornarmos seus cooperadores quando eles ensinarem a verdade.

Escrevi à igreja sobre isso, mas Diótrefes, que gosta de ser o mais importante, se recusa a receber-nos. 10 Quando eu for, relatarei algumas das coisas que ele tem feito, bem como suas acusações maldosas contra nós. Ele não apenas se recusa a acolher os irmãos, mas também impede outros de ajudá-los. E, quando o fazem, ele os expulsa da igreja.

11 Amado, não deixe que esse mau exemplo o influencie, mas siga apenas o que é bom. Quem faz o bem prova que é filho de Deus; quem faz o mal prova que não conhece a Deus.[d]

12 Todos, incluindo a própria verdade, falam bem de Demétrio. Nós dizemos o mesmo a respeito dele, e você sabe que falamos a verdade.

Conclusão

13 Tenho muito mais a lhe dizer, mas não quero fazê-lo com pena e tinta, 14 pois espero vê-lo em breve, e então conversaremos pessoalmente.

15 A paz seja com você.

Seus amigos daqui mandam lembranças. Por favor, envie minhas saudações pessoais a cada um dos amigos daí.[e]

Footnotes

  1. 1.1 Ou ancião.
  2. 1.7a Em grego, eles saíram por causa do Nome.
  3. 1.7b Em grego, dos gentios.
  4. 1.11 Em grego, não viu a Deus.
  5. 1.15 Em algumas traduções o versículo 15 faz parte do 14.

The elder,(A)

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(B) came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.(C) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children(D) are walking in the truth.(E)

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) They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way(H) in a manner that honors(I) God. It was for the sake of the Name(J) that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.(K) 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,(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

  1. 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.