Chronological

Salutation

The elder,

To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth, ² for the sake of the truth, which remains in us, and will be with us forever:

³ Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Truth and Love

⁴ I greatly rejoiced that I found some of your children walking in truth as we were commanded by the Father. ⁵ And now I ask you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. ⁶ And this is love: that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

⁷ For many deceivers, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Each one is a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸ Watch yourselves, so that we do not lose those things for which we have worked, but that we receive a full reward. ⁹ Whoever transgresses and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in the teaching of Christ has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, nor greet him. ¹¹ For whoever greets him takes part in his evil deeds.

Final Greetings

¹² I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to write with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and speak face to face that our joy may be complete.

¹³ The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

Salutation

The elder,

To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:

² Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, even as your soul is well. ³ For I greatly rejoiced when brothers came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Working Together

⁵ Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and for strangers, ⁶ who have testified of your love before the church. You will do well to send them along on their journey in a manner worthy of God. ⁷ For His name’s sake they went out, receiving no help from the Gentiles. ⁸ Therefore we ought to receive such men, that we might be fellow workers for the truth.

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first among them, did not accept us. ¹⁰ Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what kinds of works he does: ranting against us with malicious words. Not content with that, he does not accept the brothers, and stops those who want to, and throws them out of the church.

¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. Whoever does good is from God, but whoever does evil has not seen God. ¹² Demetrius receives good reports from everyone and from the truth itself. Yes, and we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.

Final Greetings

¹³ I had many things to write, but I would rather not write to you with pen and ink. ¹⁴ Instead, I hope to see you soon, and we shall speak face to face.

Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.