3 John 1
Greeting
1 The Elder:
To my dear friend Gaius: I love you in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually. 3 For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified to your [faithfulness] to the truth-how you are walking in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Gaius Commended
5 Dear friend, you are showing faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers, especially [when they are] strangers. 6 They have testified to your love in front of the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, 7 since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans.
8 Therefore, we ought to support such men so that we can be coworkers with the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive us.
10 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius has a [good] testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Farewell
13 I have many things to write you, but I don't want to write to you with pen and ink.
14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.
3 John 1
Introduction and Thanksgiving
1 Fromt the elder,ts to Gaiuss my dear brother, whom I love in truth.t2 Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.ts
3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth.s
4 I have no greater joy than this: to heart that my children are living according to the truth.t
The Charge to Gaius
5 Dear friend,t you demonstrate faithfulnessts by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers).6 Theyt have testified to your love before the church.s You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.s7 For they have gone forths on behalf of “The Name,”s accepting nothing from the pagans.ts
8 Therefore wes ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.t
Diotrephes the Troublemaker
9 I wrote something to the church,s but Diotrephes,s who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.t10 Therefore, if I come,t I will call attention to the deeds he is doings – the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church!
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good.s The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.s
Worthy Demetrius
12 Demetriuss has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him,t and you know that our testimony is true.
Conclusion
13 I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you witht pen and ink.ts14 But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face.t
15 Peace be with you.t The friends heret greet you. Greet the friendss theret by name.
