3 John

Greeting to Gaius

¹The Elder,

To the beloved Gaius, ^awhom I love in truth:

²Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. ³For I ^brejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. ⁴I have no greater ^cjoy than to hear that ^dmy children walk in ¹truth.

Gaius Commended for Generosity

⁵Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren ²and for strangers, ⁶who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, ⁷because they went forth for His name’s sake, ^etaking nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸We therefore ought to ^freceive ³such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

⁹I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. ¹⁰Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, ^gprating ⁴against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

¹¹Beloved, ^hdo not imitate what is evil, but what is good. ⁱHe who does good is of God, ⁵but he who does evil has not seen ^jGod.

¹²Demetrius ^khas a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also ⁶bear witness, ^land you know that our testimony is true.

Farewell Greeting

^13mI had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; ¹⁴but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.

Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.