Chronological

The sign of life

¹ From the Elder to the Chosen Lady and her children, whom I love in truth—as indeed, in addition to myself, do all those who know the truth, ² because of the truth that abides in us and is with us forever. ³ Grace, mercy and peace from God the father and from Jesus the Messiah, the son of the father, be with us in truth and love.

⁴ I was delighted when I found some of your children walking in the truth, just as we received the commandment from the father. ⁵ And now, dear Lady, I am writing to you, not indeed a new commandment, but the one we had from the very beginning, that we should love one another. ⁶ This is love: that we should behave in accordance with his commandments. And this is the commandment, just as you heard it from the very start, that we should behave in accordance with it.

Don’t be deceived!

⁷ Many deceivers, you see, have gone out into the world. These are people who do not admit that Jesus the Messiah has come in the flesh. Such a person is the Deceiver—the Antimessiah! ⁸ Watch out for yourselves, so that you won’t lose what we have worked for, but may receive the full reward.

⁹ Anyone who goes out on their own, and does not abide in the teaching of the Messiah, does not have God. One who abides in the teaching—such a one has the father and the son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, don’t receive them into the house; don’t even give them a greeting. ¹¹ Anyone who utters a greeting to such a person shares in their wicked deeds.

¹² I have many things to write to you, but I did not wish to write with pen and ink. I am hoping instead to come to you, and to speak face to face. That will complete our joy.

¹³ The children of your Chosen Sister send you greetings.

Hospitality for God’s people

¹ The Elder to beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

² Beloved, I pray that all is going well with you, and that you are every bit as healthy physically as you are spiritually. ³ I was absolutely delighted, you see, when some of the family arrived and bore witness to your truthfulness, since clearly you are walking in the truth. ⁴ Nothing gives me greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

⁵ Beloved, when you are doing all that you do for family members, even when they are strangers, you are doing a faithful work. ⁶ These people have borne witness to your love in the presence of the assembly, and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. ⁷ They went out for the sake of the Name, not accepting help from outsiders. ⁸ We ought to support people like that, so that we may become fellow workers with the truth.

Authority and example

⁹ I have written something to the assembly. But Diotrephes, who wants to be the most important person there, refuses to acknowledge us. ¹⁰ So, then, if I come, I will refer back to what he has done, and the slanderous words he has spoken against us. Not being satisfied with that, he doesn’t welcome family members himself; and, when others want to do so, he forbids them and throws them out of the assembly.

¹¹ Beloved, don’t imitate evil; imitate good! Someone who does good is from God; someone who does evil has not seen God. ¹² Demetrius has been well attested by everybody, and by the truth itself. We join in this testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

¹³ I have much to write to you, but I don’t want to do it with pen and ink. ¹⁴ I am hoping instead to see you very soon, so that we can talk face to face.

¹⁵ Peace be with you. All the friends greet you. Greet all the friends by name.