3 John
Evangelical Heritage Version
Greeting
The Elder,
To dear Gaius, whom I love in the truth:
Joy at Gaius’ Faithfulness and Cooperation in the Truth
2 Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and have good health, just as your soul is doing well. 3 Indeed, I was overjoyed when brothers[a] came and testified to your truthfulness because you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than when I hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are being faithful in what you are doing for the brothers even though they are strangers. 6 They have testified before the church about your love. You will do well to send them off in a manner worthy of God. 7 They went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore, we have an obligation to support such men, so that we may be coworkers for the truth.
A Warning About Diotrephes
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, does not welcome us. 10 For this reason, if I do come, I will call attention to what he is doing. He is disparaging us with wicked words, and he is not content with that. He also refuses to welcome the brothers. He even hinders and puts out of the church those who wish to welcome them.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does what is good is from God. The one who does what is evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius has been endorsed by everyone, even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Final Greeting
13 I had many things to write you, but I do not want to do it with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face.
15 Peace to you. Your friends here send their greetings to you. Greet our friends there by name.
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:3 When context indicates it, the Greek word for brothers may refer to all fellow believers, male and female.
3 John
Common English Bible
Greeting
1 From the elder.
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I truly love.
2 Dear friend, I’m praying that all is well with you and that you enjoy good health in the same way that you prosper spiritually.
Encouragement for Gaius
3 I was overjoyed when the brothers and sisters arrived and spoke highly of your faithfulness to the truth, shown by how you live according to the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth. 5 Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for our brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers. 6 They spoke highly of your love in front of the church. You all would do well to provide for their journey in a way that honors God, 7 because they left on their journey for the sake of Jesus Christ without accepting any support from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore, we ought to help people like this so that we can be coworkers with the truth.
Criticism of Diotrephes
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, doesn’t welcome us. 10 Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what he has done—making unjustified and wicked accusations against us. And as if that were not enough, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers and sisters but stops those who want to do so and even throws them out of the church! 11 Dear friend, don’t imitate what is bad but what is good. Whoever practices what is good belongs to God. Whoever practices what is bad has not seen God.
Approval of Demetrius
12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, even the truth itself. We also speak highly of him, and you know that what we say is true.
Final greeting
13 I have a lot to say to you, but I don’t want to use pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face-to-face.
15 Peace be with you. Your friends here greet you. Greet our friends there by name.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible