Chronological

¹ The elder man, to the chosen lady [The elder man to the lady Electa], and to her children, which I love in truth; and not I alone, but also all men that know truth [but and all men that knew truth];

² for the truth that dwelleth in you, and with you shall be without end. [for the truth that dwelleth in you, and with you shall be into without end].

³ Grace be with you, mercy, and peace of God the Father, and of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and charity.

⁴ I joyed full much, for I found of thy sons going in truth, as we received commandment of the Father.

⁵ And now I pray thee, lady, not as writing a new commandment to thee, but that that we had from the beginning, that we love each other.

⁶ And this is charity, that we walk after his commandments. For this is the commandment, that as ye heard at the beginning, walk ye in him.

⁷ For many deceivers went out into the world, which acknowledge not that Jesus Christ hath come in flesh; this is a deceiver and antichrist.

⁸ See ye yourselves, lest ye lose the things that ye have wrought, [but] that ye receive full meed;

⁹ witting that each man that goeth before [witting that each man that goeth away], and dwelleth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God. He that dwelleth in the teaching [of Christ], hath both the Son and the Father.

¹⁰ If any man cometh to you, and bringeth not this teaching, do not ye receive him into your house, neither say to him, Hail.

¹¹ For he that saith to him, Hail, communeth with his evil works. Lo! I before-said to you, that ye be not confounded in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹² I have more things to write to you, and I would not by parchment and ink [I having more things to write to you, would not by parchment and ink]; for I hope that I shall come to you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy be full.

¹³ The sons of thy chosen sister greet thee well [The sons of thy sister Electa greet thee well]. The grace of God be with thee. Amen.

¹ The elder man to Gaius, most dear brother [most dear], whom I love in truth.

² Most dear brother, of all things I make prayer, that thou enter, and fare wellfully, as thy soul doeth wellfully.^[a]

³ I joyed [full] greatly, for brethren came, and bare witnessing to thy truth, as thou walkest in truth.

⁴ I have not more grace of these things, than that I hear that my sons walk in truth.

⁵ Most dear brother, thou doest faithfully, whatever thou workest in brethren [Most dear, thou doest faithfully, whatever thou workest into brethren], and that into pilgrims,

⁶ which yielded witnessing to thy charity, in the sight of the church; which thou leadest forth [whom thou leadest forth], and doest well-worthily to God.

⁷ For they went forth for his name, and took nothing of heathen men. [Soothly for his name they went forth, nothing taking of heathen men.]

⁸ Therefore we owe to receive such, that we be even-workers of truth.

⁹ I had written peradventure to the church, but this Diotrephes, that loveth to bear primacy in them [that loveth for to bear primacy, or chief places, in them], receiveth not us.

¹⁰ For this thing, if I shall come, I shall admonish his works, which he doeth, chiding against us with evil words^[b]. And as if these things suffice not to him, neither he receiveth brethren, and forbiddeth them that receive, and putteth out of the church [and casteth out of the church].

¹¹ Most dear brother [Most dear], do not thou follow evil thing, but that that is good thing. He that doeth well, is of God; he that doeth evil, seeth not God.

¹² Witnessing is yielded to Demetrius of all men, and of truth itself; but also we bear witnessing, and thou knowest, that our witnessing is true.

¹³ I had many things to write to thee, but I would not write to thee by ink and pen.

¹⁴ For I hope soon to see thee, and we shall speak mouth to mouth. Peace be to thee. Friends greet thee well. Greet thou well friends by name.