Chronological

¹ The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth^[a]— and not only I, but also all the ones having known the truth— ² because-of ^[b] the truth abiding in us. And it will be with us forever. ³ Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, will be with us in^[c] truth and love.

I Rejoiced To Find You Walking In The Truth. Be Loving One Another

⁴ I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in the truth, just as we received commandment from the Father. ⁵ And now I ask you, lady— not as-if writing you a new commandment, but the one which we had from the beginning— that we be loving one another. ⁶ And this is love: that we be walking according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you^[d] all heard from the beginning, that you should be walking in it.

Because There Are Many Deceivers. Watch Out, And Abide In The Teaching of Christ

⁷ Because many deceivers went-out into the world— the ones not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. ⁸ Be watching yourselves in order that you^[e] may not lose^[f] the things which we^[g] accomplished, but may receive a full reward. ⁹ Everyone going-ahead^[h] and not abiding in the teaching of Christ does not have God; the one abiding in the teaching— this one has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you^[i] and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into the house^[j] and do not speak greetings to him. ¹¹ For the one speaking greetings to him shares in his evil works.

¹² Having many things to write to you^[k] all, I did not want to do so with paper and ink. But I hope to come-to-be with you and to speak mouth to mouth, in order that our joy may be full. ¹³ The children of your chosen sister greet you^[l].

¹ The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth^[a].

May You Prosper In All Things, Just As Your Soul Is Prospering Because You Walk In The Truth

² Beloved, I pray^[b] that with respect to all things you may prosper and be healthy, just as your soul is prospering. ³ For I rejoiced greatly while brothers were coming and testifying concerning your truth— how^[c] you are walking in the truth. ⁴ I have no joy greater than these things: that I may be hearing-of my children walking in the truth.

Beloved, Support Fellow Workers For The Truth

⁵ Beloved, you are doing a faithful thing— whatever you may accomplish^[d]— for the brothers (and this, for strangers!) ⁶ who testified concerning your love before the church, as to whom you will do well having sent-them-forward worthily of God. ⁷ For they went out for the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ Therefore we ought to be supporting such ones, in order that we may be^[e] fellow-workers^[f] for the truth.

Diotrephes Is Not Accepting Us. Beloved, Imitate The One Doing Good

⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, the one loving-to-be-first^[g] among them, is not accepting^[h] us. ¹⁰ For this reason, if I come I will call-to-mind^[i] his deeds which he is doing— talking-nonsense-about^[j] us with malicious words. And not being content with these things, neither is he himself accepting the brothers. And he is forbidding and putting-out^[k] of the church the ones wanting to do so. ¹¹ Beloved, do not be imitating the evil, but the good. The one doing-good is from God. The one doing-evil has not seen God.

Demetrius Is Attested By Everyone

¹² With regard to Demetrius, he has been attested by everyone, and by the truth itself. And we also are testifying, and you know that our testimony is true.

¹³ I had many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with ink and pen. ¹⁴ But I hope to see you at-once, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.