3 John

Greeting

The Elder: ^a

To my dear friend ^bGaius: I love you in the truth. ^c

²Dear friend, ^dI pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically ^ejust as you are spiritually. ^f3For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified ^gto your faithfulness to the truth—how you are walking in the truth. ^h4I have no greater joy ⁱthan this: to hear that my children ^jare walking in the truth.

Gaius Commended

⁵Dear friend, ^kyou are showing faithfulness ^lby whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. ⁶They have testified to your love in front of the church. ^mYou will do well to send them on their journey ⁿin a manner worthy of God, ^o7since they set out for the sake of the Name, ^paccepting nothing from pagans. ^q8Therefore, we ought to support such men so that we can be coworkers with ^rthe truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

⁹I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, ^sdoes not receive us. ^t10This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering ^uus 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.

¹¹Dear friend, ^vdo not imitate what is evil, ^wbut what is good. The one who does good is of God; ^xthe one who does evil has not seen God. ^y12Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know ^zthat our testimony is true. ^a

Farewell

¹³I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. ¹⁴I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. ^b

Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.