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.

问候

我作长老的写信给亲爱的该犹,就是我真心所爱的。

亲爱的,我愿你事事安宁,身体健康,正如你的心神安宁一样。 我非常欢喜,有弟兄到这里来,证实你对真理的忠诚,就是你按着真理而行。 我听见我的儿女按真理而行,我的欢喜没有比这个更大的。

合作和反对

亲爱的,你对弟兄,特别是对作客旅的弟兄所做的都是忠诚的。 他们在教会面前证实了你的爱;你若以对得起 神的方式,为他们送行就好了; 因为他们是为基督的名[a]出外,并没有从未信的人接受什么。 所以,我们应当接待这样的人,好让我们与他们在真理上成为同工。

我曾写过一些东西给教会,但他们中间那好作领袖的丢特腓不接纳我们。 10 为此,我若去,要提起他所做的事,就是他用恶言攻击我们,还不满足,他自己不接纳弟兄,有人愿意接纳,他还阻止,并且把接纳弟兄的人赶出教会。

11 亲爱的,不要效法恶,只要效法善。行善的人属乎 神;行恶的人未曾见过 神。 12 低米丢行善,有众人给他作见证,又有真理给他作见证,就是我们也给他作见证,你知道我们的见证是真的。

问安

13 我还有许多事要写给你,却不愿意用笔墨来写给你, 14 但盼望很快见到你,我们好面对面谈论。 15 愿你平安!朋友们都向你问安。请你替我按着名字一一向朋友们问安。

Footnotes

  1. 1.7 “基督的名”: 原文直译“那名”。

Greeting to Gaius

The Elder,

To the beloved Gaius, (A)whom I love in truth:

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I (B)rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater (C)joy than to hear that (D)my children walk in [a]truth.

Gaius Commended for Generosity

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren [b]and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, (E)taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to (F)receive[c] such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, (G)prating[d] against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

11 Beloved, (H)do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. (I)He who does good is of God, [e]but he who does evil has not seen (J)God.

12 Demetrius (K)has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also [f]bear witness, (L)and you know that our testimony is true.

Farewell Greeting

13 (M)I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.

Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:4 NU the truth
  2. 3 John 1:5 NU and especially for
  3. 3 John 1:8 NU support
  4. 3 John 1:10 talking nonsense
  5. 3 John 1:11 NU, M omit but
  6. 3 John 1:12 testify

Greeting

(A)The elder to the beloved Gaius, (B)whom I love in truth.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For (C)I rejoiced greatly when the brothers[a] came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that (D)my children are walking in the truth.

Support and Opposition

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for (E)these brothers, (F)strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner (G)worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of (H)the name, (I)accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, (J)do not imitate evil but imitate good. (K)Whoever does good is from God; (L)whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius (M)has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and (N)you know that our testimony is true.

Final Greetings

13 (O)I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, (P)each by name.

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:3 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 5, 10