Historical

He writes to a certain lady, rejoices that her children walk in the truth, exhorts them unto love, warns them to beware of such deceivers as deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and prays them to continue in the doctrine of Christ, and to have nothing to do with those who do not bring this teaching.

¹ The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth – and not only I, but also all who know the truth, ² for the sake of the truth that dwells in us and shall be in us forever.

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

⁴ I rejoiced greatly that I found some of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. ⁵ And now I beseech you, dear lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that same which we had from the beginning: that we should love one another. ⁶ And this is the love: that we should walk according to his commandments.

For this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning: walk in him. ⁷ For many deceivers have entered into the world, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist. ⁸ Look to yourselves, that we lose not that which we have wrought, but that we may have a full reward. ⁹ Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who endures in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, neither bid him Godspeed. ¹¹ For he who bids him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.

¹² I had many things to write to you. Nevertheless, I would rather not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come to you and speak with you mouth to mouth, so that our joy may be full.

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

He is glad of Gaius, that he walks in the truth. He exhorts them to be loving to the poor Christians in their persecution, and speaks of the unkind dealing of Diotrephes, and the good report of Demetrius.

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

² Beloved, I wish in all things that you prospered and fared well, even as your soul prospers. ³ I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, how you walk in truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

⁵ Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren, and for strangers, ⁶ who bear witness of your love before all the congregation. Which brethren, when you bring them forwards on their journey (as it befits God), you will do well, ⁷ because for his name’s sake they went forth, and took nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ We therefore ought to receive such brethren, so that we also may be helpers of the truth.

⁹ I wrote to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, will not receive us. ¹⁰ And so if I come, I will declare the things he does, scoffing on us with malicious words. And he is not content with that. Not only does he himself not receive the brethren, he also forbids those who would, and thrusts them out of the congregation.

¹¹ Beloved, do not follow that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does well is of God, but he who does evil does not see God.

¹² Demetrius has a good report from all men, and from the truth. Yea and we ourselves also bear witness, and you know that our witness is true.

¹³ I have many things to write, but I do not wish to write with ink and pen to you. ¹⁴ For I trust I will shortly see you, and we shall speak mouth to mouth.

¹⁵ Peace be with you.

The friends send you greetings.
Greet the friends
by name.