3 John
Expanded Bible
Help Christians Who Teach Truth
1 From the Elder [or old man; C Greek: presbyteros, referring to advanced age, a church office, or both; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:1; see 2 John 1].
To ·my dear friend [L the beloved] Gaius [C an otherwise unknown Christian leader], whom I love in the truth [C the truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ]:
2 ·My dear friend [L Beloved], I pray that you are ·doing well [prospering] in ·every way [all respects] and that your health is good, just as ·your soul is doing fine [it is well with your soul; your soul is prospering]. 3 [L For] I was very happy when some brothers and sisters came and ·told me [testified] about the truth in your life and how you are ·following [L walking in] the way of truth [2 John 4]. 4 Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children [C members of the church under his spiritual care] are ·following the way of truth [walking in the truth].
5 ·My dear friend [L Beloved], ·it is good that [you are living out your faith when] you help the brothers and sisters, even those ·you do not know [L who are strangers]. 6 They ·told [testified before] the church about your love. ·Please help them [You will do well] to continue their trip [C as missionaries] in a way worthy of God. 7 [L For] They ·started out in service to Christ [L departed for the sake of the name], and they have been accepting ·nothing [no support] from nonbelievers [L Gentiles; pagans]. 8 So we should ·help [show hospitality to; support] such people; when we do, we ·share in their work [become coworkers] for the truth.
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be ·their leader [first], will not ·listen to us [receive us; or accept our authority]. 10 So if I come, I will ·talk about [call to mind; bring attention to] what Diotrephes [C nothing further is known about this man] is doing, about how he ·lies and says evil things about us [slanders us with evil/malicious words]. But ·more than [not satisfied with] that, he refuses to ·accept [welcome; receive] the other brothers and sisters; he even ·stops [prevents] those who do want to ·accept [welcome; receive] them and ·puts them out of [expels them from] the church.
11 ·My dear friend [Beloved], do not ·follow [imitate] what is ·bad [evil]; ·follow [imitate] what is good [1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 2 Thess. 3:7; Heb. 6:12; 13:7]. The one who does good ·belongs to [is from] God. But the one who does evil has never ·known [L seen] God.
12 Everyone ·says [witnesses/testifies to] good things about Demetrius [C likely the bearer of the letter to Gaius; otherwise unknown], and the truth agrees with what they say. We also ·speak [witness; testify] well of him, and you know ·what we say [our witness/testimony] is true.
13 I have many things I want to write you, but I do not want to use pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon and talk face to face. 15 Peace to you. The friends here greet you. Please greet each friend there by name [2 John 12–13].
3 Juan
La Palabra (Hispanoamérica)
Saludo
1 El Anciano a Gayo, a quien amo de corazón conforme a la verdad.
2 Querido Gayo: es mi deseo que goces de buena salud y vayan bien todos tus asuntos, como te va bien en lo que toca al espíritu.
Elogio de Gayo
3 Me alegré sobremanera cuando llegaron los hermanos y me contaron que sigues fiel a la verdad y que vives de acuerdo con ella. 4 Mi mayor alegría es oír que mis hijos caminan a la luz de la verdad. 5 Estás portándote, querido, como un auténtico creyente al hacer lo que haces por los hermanos, aunque para ti sean forasteros. 6 Ellos son precisamente los que han dado ante la comunidad público testimonio de tu amor. Harás bien en ayudarlos a proseguir su viaje como corresponde a servidores de Dios, 7 ya que se han puesto en camino por amor a su nombre y nada reciben de los no creyentes. 8 Así que nosotros debemos acogerlos y colaborar con ellos en la difusión de la verdad.
Diotrefes y Demetrio. Distinto comportamiento
9 He escrito unas líneas a la comunidad, pero Diotrefes, en su afán por manejarlo todo, no nos ha hecho ningún caso. 10 Por eso, cuando yo vaya, le echaré en cara su conducta: sus palabras insidiosas contra mí y, por si esto fuera poco, su negativa a recibir a los hermanos. Hasta se atreve a prohibir a otros que los reciban, bajo la amenaza de expulsarlos de la Iglesia.
11 Pero tú, querido hermano, no imites lo malo, sino lo bueno. Quien hace el bien pertenece a Dios; quien hace el mal es que desconoce a Dios.
12 En cuanto a Demetrio, todos, y la misma verdad lo confirma, dan testimonio a su favor. Un testimonio al que sumamos el nuestro, y tú sabes que nuestro testimonio es digno de crédito.
Saludos finales
13 Te escribiría muchas más cosas, pero no quiero hacerlo con tinta y pluma. 14 Confío en verte pronto y hablar personalmente contigo. 15 La paz sea contigo. Saludos de parte de los amigos; saluda tú a cada uno de los amigos en particular.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
La Palabra, (versión hispanoamericana) © 2010 Texto y Edición, Sociedad Bíblica de España