⁵Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to ^gthe brethren, and to ^hstrangers; ⁶which have ^rborne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou ⁱbring forward on their journey ^†after a godly sort, ^kthou shalt do well: ⁷because that for his name’s sake they went forth, ^ltaking nothing of the Gentiles. ⁸^mWe therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

⁹I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. ¹⁰Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, ⁿprating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

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Footnotes

gComp. Gal. 6:10.
hSee Job 31:32.
rver. 3, 6 (Gk.). See Acts 6:3.
iSee Acts 15:3.
†[Gr. worthy of God]. 1 Thess. 2:12. So Col. 1:10.
l 1 Cor. 9:12, 15. See Acts 20:33.
mComp. Matt. 10:41.
nSo 1 Tim. 5:13.

Cross references

k Acts 10:33. 2 Pet. 1:19.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans. Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth.

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. 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 fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.

NLTNew Living Translation

Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.

I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers. They have testified to your love before the church; you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out on behalf of the name, accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become fellow workers with the truth.

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who wants to be first among them, does not acknowledge us. Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing, disparaging us with evil words. And not being content with these, he does not receive the brothers himself, and he hinders those wanting to do so and throws them out of the church.