Add parallel Print Page Options

From the ho elder presbyteros, to Gaius Gaios my ho dear brother agapētos, whom hos I egō love agapaō in en truth alētheia.

Dear friend agapētos, I pray euchomai that in peri every way pas you sy may prosper euodoō and kai be in good health hygiainō, just as kathōs your sy soul psychē is prospering euodoō. · ho For gar I rejoiced chairō greatly lian when the brothers adelphos came erchomai and kai testified martyreō to your sy fidelity to the ho truth alētheia, as kathōs indeed you sy do walk peripateō in en the truth alētheia. I have echō no ou greater joy chara than this houtos: to hina hear akouō that · ho my emos children teknon are walking peripateō in en the ho truth alētheia.

Dear brother agapētos, you are poieō faithful pistos in what hos you are doing ergazomai for eis the ho brothers adelphos, even though kai they houtos are strangers xenos. They hos have testified martyreō to your sy · ho love agapē before enōpion the church ekklēsia. You will do poieō well kalōs to help them hos on their way propempō in a manner worthy axiōs of ho God theos, because gar they set out exerchomai for the sake hyper of the ho Name onoma, accepting lambanō nothing mēdeis from apo · ho nonbelievers ethnikos. Therefore oun we hēmeis ought opheilō to show hospitality hypolambanō to ho such men toioutos, so that hina we may be ginomai coworkers synergos for the ho truth alētheia.

I sent graphō a tis letter to the ho church ekklēsia, but alla Diotrephes Diotrephēs, who ho likes to be in charge philoprōteuō, does not ou acknowledge epidechomai our hēmeis authority . 10 For dia this reason houtos, should ean I come erchomai, I will bring up hypomimnēskō the ho things ergon he is doing poieō, disparaging phlyareō us hēmeis with malicious ponēros talk logos. And kai not satisfied arkeō with epi that houtos, he autos refuses oute to welcome epidechomai the ho brothers adelphos. He kōlyō even kai prevents kōlyō those ho who would like to boulomai and kai puts ekballō them out of ek the ho church ekklēsia.

11 Dear friend agapētos, do not imitate mimeomai what ho is evil kakos but alla what ho is good agathos. The ho one who does good agathopoieō is eimi of ek · ho God theos; the ho one who does evil kakopoieō has not ou seen horaō · ho God theos. 12 Everyone pas has testified martyreō favorably regarding Demetrius Dēmētrios, and kai so has the ho truth alētheia itself autos. And de we hēmeis testify martyreō for him as well kai, and kai you know oida that hoti · ho our hēmeis testimony martyria is eimi true alēthēs.

13 I have echō many things polys to write graphō to you sy, but alla I do not ou wish thelō to write graphō with dia ink melas and kai pen kalamos. 14 But de I hope elpizō to see you sy in the near future eutheōs, and kai we will speak laleō face stoma to pros face stoma. 15 Peace eirēnē to you sy. The ho friends philos here send you sy greetings aspazomai. Greet aspazomai the ho friends philos there by kata name onoma.

Read full chapter

Greetings

This letter is from John, the elder.[a]

I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth.

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. Some of the traveling teachers[b] recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

Caring for the Lord’s Workers

Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord,[c] and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.[d] So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.

I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.

11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.[e]

12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth.

Conclusion

13 I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. 14 For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.

15 [f]Peace be with you.

Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Greek From the elder.
  2. 3 Greek the brothers; also in verses 5 and 10.
  3. 7a Greek They went out on behalf of the Name.
  4. 7b Greek from Gentiles.
  5. 11 Greek they have not seen God.
  6. 15 Some English translations combine verses 14 and 15 into verse 14.