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3 John
Lexham English Bible

Greeting

1 The elder, to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I pray you may prosper concerning everything and be healthy, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced exceedingly when the[a] brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this: that I hear my children are walking in the truth.

Instructions to Gaius

5 Dear friend, you act faithfully[b] in whatever you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers[c]. 6 They have testified to your love before the church; you will do well to send them[d] on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out on behalf of the name, accepting nothing from the pagans.[e] 8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become fellow workers with the truth.

Diotrephes Causes Trouble

9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who wants to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing[f], disparaging us with evil words. And not being content with these, he does not receive the brothers himself, and he hinders those wanting to do so and throws them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, 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.

Demetrius Commended

12 Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. And we also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Conclusion and Final Greeting

13 I have many things to write to you, but I do not want to write to you by means of ink and pen. 14 But I hope to see you right away, and to speak face to face[g]. 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  2. 3 John 1:5 Or “you act loyally”
  3. 3 John 1:5 Literally “and this strangers”
  4. 3 John 1:6 Literally “whom”
  5. 3 John 1:7 That is, Gentile unbelievers (as opposed to Gentile Christians)
  6. 3 John 1:10 Literally “his deeds which he is doing”
  7. 3 John 1:14 Literally “mouth to mouth”
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3 John
New Living Translation

Greetings

1 This letter is from John, the elder.[a]

I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth.

2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 Some of the traveling teachers[b] recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

Caring for the Lord’s Workers

5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord,[c] and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.[d] 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.

9 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.

11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.[e]

12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth.

Conclusion

13 I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. 14 For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.

15 [f]Peace be with you.

Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Greek From the elder.
  2. 3 Greek the brothers; also in verses 5 and 10.
  3. 7a Greek They went out on behalf of the Name.
  4. 7b Greek from Gentiles.
  5. 11 Greek they have not seen God.
  6. 15 Some English translations combine verses 14 and 15 into verse 14.
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New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.