² I ask you to receive her in the Lord^(A) in a way worthy of his people^(B) and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

²⁹ So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,^(A)

Life Worthy of the Gospel

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy^(A) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm^(B) in the one Spirit,^[a] striving together^(C) as one for the faith of the gospel

⁵ Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,^[a](A) even though they are strangers to you.^{(B) 6} They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way^(C) in a manner that honors^(D) God. ⁷ It was for the sake of the Name^(E) that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.^{(F) 8} We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. ¹⁰ So when I come,^(G) 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.^(H) He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.^(I)

¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.^(A)

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner,^(A) welcome him as you would welcome me.

¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers^(A) or addicted to much wine,^(B) but to teach what is good.

¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day!^(A) You know very well in how many ways he helped me^(B) in Ephesus.^(C)