Greeting

The elder:(A)

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.(B)

Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health,(C) just as your whole life is going well.[a] For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified(D) to your fidelity to the truth—how you are walking in truth.(E) I have no greater joy(F) than this: to hear that my children(G) are walking in truth.

Gaius Commended

Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. They have testified to your love before the church.(H) You will do well to send them on their journey(I) in a manner worthy of God,(J) since they set out for the sake of the Name,(K) accepting nothing from pagans.[b](L) Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them,(M) does not receive our authority.(N) 10 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering(O) us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil,(P) but what is good. The one who does good is of God;(Q) the one who does evil has not seen God.(R) 12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius—even the truth itself. And we also speak well of him, and you know(S) that our testimony is true.(T)

Farewell

13 I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Or as your soul prospers
  2. 7 Or Gentiles

Greeting

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

Instructions to Gaius

Dear friend, you act faithfully[b] in whatever you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers[c]. 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. For they have gone out on behalf of the name, accepting nothing from the pagans.[e] Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become fellow workers with the truth.

Diotrephes Causes Trouble

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.

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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”