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He is glad of Gaius, that he walks in the truth. He exhorts them to be loving to the poor Christians in their persecution, and speaks of the unkind dealing of Diotrephes, and the good report of Demetrius.

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

Beloved, I wish in all things that you prospered and fared well, even as your soul prospers. I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, how you walk in truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren, and for strangers, who bear witness of your love before all the congregation. Which brethren, when you bring them forwards on their journey (as it befits God), you will do well, because for his name’s sake they went forth, and took nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such brethren, so that we also may be helpers of the truth.

I wrote to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, will not receive us. 10 And so if I come, I will declare the things he does, scoffing on us with malicious words. And he is not content with that. Not only does he himself not receive the brethren, he also forbids those who would, and thrusts them out of the congregation.

11 Beloved, do not follow that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does well is of God, but he who does evil does not see God.

12 Demetrius has a good report from all men, and from the truth. Yea and we ourselves also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true.

13 I have many things to write, but I do not wish to write with ink and pen to you. 14 For I trust I will shortly see you, and we shall speak mouth to mouth.

15 Peace be with you.

The friends send you greetings.
Greet the friends
by name.

Walking in the Truth

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

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I (D)rejoiced greatly when (E)brothers came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you (F)are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than [a]this, to hear that (G)my children are (H)walking in the truth.

Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever [b]work you do for the (I)brothers, and are doing this though they are (J)strangers; and they bore witness to your love before the church. You will do well to (K)send them on their way in a manner (L)worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of (M)the Name, (N)receiving nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to [c]support such men, so that we may [d]be fellow workers [e]with the truth.

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to (O)be first among them, does not welcome [f]what we say. 10 For this reason, (P)if I come, I will bring to remembrance his deeds which he does, unjustly disparaging us with wicked words. And not satisfied with this, he himself does not (Q)welcome the (R)brothers either, and he forbids those who want to do so and (S)puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, (T)do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. (U)The one who does good is of God; (V)the one who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius (W)has received a good witness from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our witness, and (X)you know that our witness is true.

13 (Y)I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.

15 (Z)Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends (AA)by name.

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:4 Lit these things, that I hear
  2. 3 John 1:5 Lit work
  3. 3 John 1:8 Or receive such men as guests
  4. 3 John 1:8 Or prove ourselves to be
  5. 3 John 1:8 Or for
  6. 3 John 1:9 Lit us

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.