from Biblica1The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, just as you are progressing spiritually.3It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[1] even though they are strangers to you.6They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honours God.7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us.10So 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.11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone – and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.13I have much to write to you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.15Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
1The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. (1Jo 3:18; 2Jo 1:1)2Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.3For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers[1] came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. (2Jo 1:4)4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (1Co 4:14; Ga 4:19; 1Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:2; Tit 1:4; Phm 1:10)
Support and Opposition
5Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, (Mt 25:35; Ga 6:10; Heb 13:1)6who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. (Col 1:10; 1Th 2:12)7For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. (Ac 5:41; 1Co 9:12; 1Co 9:15)8Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.9I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.10So 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.11Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (Ps 34:14; Ps 37:27; Isa 1:16; 1Jo 2:29; 1Jo 3:6)12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. (Joh 21:24; 1Ti 3:7)
Final Greetings
13I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. (2Jo 1:12)14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.15Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. (Joh 10:3)
3 John 1
King James Version
1The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.5Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:7Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.8We 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, prating 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.11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.13I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:14But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
3 John 1
New International Reader’s Version
from Biblica1I, the elder, am writing this letter. I am sending it to you, my dear friend Gaius. I love you because of the truth.2Dear friend, I know that your spiritual life is going well. I pray that you also may enjoy good health. And I pray that everything else may go well with you.3Some believers came to me and told me that you are faithful to the truth. They told me that you continue to live by it. This news gave me great joy.4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living by the truth.5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters. You are faithful even though they are strangers to you.6They have told the church about your love. Please help them by sending them on their way in a manner that honours God.7They started on their journey to serve Jesus Christ. They didn’t receive any help from those who aren’t believers.8So we should welcome people like them. We should work together with them for the truth.9I wrote to the church. But Diotrephes will not welcome us. He loves to be the first in everything.10So when I come, I will point out what he is doing. He is saying evil things that aren’t true about us. Even this doesn’t satisfy him. So he refuses to welcome other believers. He also keeps others from welcoming them. In fact, he throws them out of the church.11Dear friend, don’t be like those who do evil. Be like those who do good. Anyone who does what is good belongs to God. Anyone who does what is evil hasn’t really seen or known God.12Everyone says good things about Demetrius. He lives in keeping with the truth. We also say good things about him. And you know that what we say is true.13I have a lot to write to you. But I don’t want to write with pen and ink.14I hope I can see you soon. Then we can talk face to face.15May you have peace. The friends here send their greetings. Greet each one of the friends there.