3 John
Complete Jewish Bible
1 From: The Elder
To: Dear Gaius, whom I love in truth:
2 Dear friend, I am praying that everything prosper with you and that you be in good health, as I know you are prospering spiritually. 3 For I was so happy when some brothers came and testified how faithful you are to the truth, as you continue living in the truth. 4 Nothing gives me greater joy than hearing that my children are living in the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are faithful in all the work you are doing for the brothers, even when they are strangers to you. 6 They have testified to your love in front of the congregation. You will be doing well if you send them on their way in a manner worthy of God, 7 since it was for the sake of HaShem that they went out without accepting anything from the Goyim. 8 It is we, therefore, who should support such people; so that we may share in their work for the truth.
9 I wrote something to the congregation; but Diotrephes, who likes to be the macher among them, doesn’t recognize our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up everything he is doing, including his spiteful and groundless gossip about us. And as if that weren’t enough for him, he refuses to recognize the brothers’ authority either; moreover, he stops those who want to do so and tries to drive them out of the congregation!
11 Dear friend, don’t imitate the bad, but the good. Those who do what is good are from God; those who do what is bad are not from God.
12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. We vouch for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I have much to write you, but I don’t want to write with pen and ink; 14 however, I am hoping to see you very soon, and we will speak face to face.
Shalom to you. Your friends send you their greetings. Greet each of our friends by name.
3 John
Names of God Bible
Greeting
1 From the church leader.[a]
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love because we share the truth.
Encouragement for Gaius
2 Dear friend, I know that you are spiritually well. I pray that you’re doing well in every other way and that you’re healthy. 3 I was very happy when some believers came and told us that you are living according to the truth. 4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are showing your faith in whatever you do for other believers, especially when they’re your guests. 6 These believers have told the congregation about your love. You will do well to support them on their trip in a way that proves you belong to God. 7 After all, they went on their trip to serve the one named Christ, and they didn’t accept any help from the people to whom they went. 8 We must support believers who go on trips like this so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth.
Criticism of Diotrephes
9 I wrote a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won’t accept us. 10 For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he’s doing. He’s not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers we send as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation.
Praise for Demetrius
11 Dear friend, never imitate evil, but imitate good. The person who does good is from God. The person who does evil has never seen God.
12 Everyone, including the truth itself, says good things about Demetrius. We also say good things about him, and you know that what we say is true.
Farewell
13 I have a lot to write to you. However, I would rather not write. 14 I hope to visit you very soon. Then we can talk things over personally.
15 Peace be with you! Your friends here send you their greetings. Greet each of our friends by name.
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:1 Or “pastor,” or “elder.”
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.