3 John
Good News Translation
1 (A)From the Elder—
To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.
2 My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit. 3 I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth—just as you always live in the truth. 4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.
Gaius Is Praised
5 My dear friend, you are so faithful in the work you do for other Christians, even when they are strangers. 6 They have spoken to the church here about your love. Please help them to continue their trip in a way that will please God. 7 For they set out on their trip in the service of Christ without accepting any help from unbelievers. 8 We Christians, then, must help these people, so that we may share in their work for the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9 I wrote a short letter to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to be their leader, will not pay any attention to what I say. 10 When I come, then, I will bring up everything he has done: the terrible things he says about us and the lies he tells! But that is not enough for him; he will not receive the Christians when they come, and even stops those who want to receive them and tries to drive them out of the church!
11 My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God.
12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius; truth itself speaks well of him. And we add our testimony, and you know that what we say is true.
Final Greetings
13 I have so much to tell you, but I do not want to do it with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk personally.
15 Peace be with you.
All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.
3 John
Modern English Version
Salutation
The elder,
To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, even as your soul is well. 3 For I greatly rejoiced when brothers came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Working Together
5 Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and for strangers, 6 who have testified of your love before the church. You will do well to send them along on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For His name’s sake they went out, receiving no help from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to receive such men, that we might be fellow workers for the truth.
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first among them, did not accept us. 10 Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what kinds of works he does: ranting against us with malicious words. Not content with that, he does not accept the brothers, and stops those who want to, and throws them out of the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. Whoever does good is from God, but whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius receives good reports from everyone and from the truth itself. Yes, and we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
Final Greetings
13 I had many things to write, but I would rather not write to you with pen and ink. 14 Instead, I hope to see you soon, and we shall speak face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.