3 Johannes 1
1 De ouderling aan den geliefden Gajus, welken ik in waarheid liefheb.
[You(sg) know me as] the [chief] Elder. [I am writing this letter to you], my dear friend Gaius, whom I truly love.
2 Geliefde, voor alle dingen wens ik, dat gij welvaart en gezond zijt, gelijk uw ziel welvaart.
Dear friend, I ask [God that things may go] well for you in every way, [specifically], that you will be physically healthy just like you are spiritually healthy [MTY].
3 Want ik ben zeer verblijd geweest, als de broeders kwamen, en getuigden van uw waarheid, gelijk gij in de waarheid wandelt.
I am very happy because some fellow believers have come [here] and told me that you conduct your life in a manner [that is consistent with God’s] true message.
4 Ik heb geen meerdere blijdschap dan hierin, dat ik hoor, dat mijn kinderen in de waarheid wandelen.
I am very happy when I hear that (people whom I helped to believe in Christ/my [spiritual] children) are conducting their lives like you are!
5 Geliefde, gij doet trouwelijk, in al hetgeen gij doet aan de broederen en aan de vreemdelingen,
Dear friend, you are [serving Jesus] loyally/faithfully whenever you do things to help fellow believers, [even those whom you] do not know, who are traveling [around doing God’s work].
6 Die getuigd hebben van uw liefde, in de tegenwoordigheid der Gemeente; welken indien gij geleide doet, gelijk het Gode waardig is, zo zult gij weldoen.
[Some of] them have reported before the congregation [here how] you have showed that you love them. You should continue to help such people in their travels in a way that is pleasing to God.
7 Want zij zijn voor Zijn Naam uitgegaan, niets nemende van de heidenen.
When those fellow believers went out [to tell people about Jesus] [MTY], the people who do not believe in Christ did not give them anything [to help them].
8 Wij dan zijn schuldig de zodanigen te ontvangen, opdat wij medearbeiders mogen worden der waarheid.
So we [who believe in Christ] ought to give food and money to such people to help [them as they teach others God’s] true message.
9 Ik heb aan de Gemeente geschreven; maar Diotrefes, die onder hen zoekt de eerste te zijn, neemt ons niet aan.
I wrote [a letter] to the congregation [telling them to help those fellow believers]. However, Diotrephes does not (acknowledge my authority/[pay any attention to what] I wrote), because he (desires to be in charge/wants to be the leader) of [the congregation].
10 Daarom, indien ik kom, zo zal ik in gedachtenis brengen zijn werken, die hij doet, met boze woorden snaterende tegen ons; en hiermede niet vergenoegd zijnde, zo ontvangt hij zelf de broeders niet, en verhindert degenen, die het willen doen, en werpt ze uit de Gemeente.
So, when I arrive [there], I will [publicly] tell what he does: He tells others evil nonsense about us [in order to] harm [us by what he] says, and he is not content with only doing that. He himself refuses to receive the fellow believers who are traveling around doing God’s work, and he also stops those who want to receive them by expelling them from the congregation.
11 Geliefde, volgt het kwade niet na, maar het goede. Die goed doet, is uit God; maar die kwaad doet, heeft God niet gezien.
Dear friend, do not imitate a bad [example like that]. Instead, [keep imitating] good [examples. Remember that] people who do good deeds ([truly] belong to God/are [spiritual children] of God), [but] those who do [what is] evil do not (know/have fellowship with) God.
12 Aan Demetrius wordt getuigenis gegeven van allen, en van de waarheid zelve; en wij getuigen ook, en gij weet, dat onze getuigenis waarachtig is.
All [the believers who know Demetrius] say that he [is a good person]. The fact [that he conducts his life in a way that is consistent/in accordance with God’s] true [message] shows [that he is a good person], and we also say the same thing [about him]. You know that what we say [about him] is true. [So it will be good if you welcome him and help him. He is the one who will be bringing this letter to you].
13 Ik had veel te schrijven, maar ik wil u niet schrijven met inkt en pen;
[When I began] to write this letter, I had much more [that I intended] to tell you. But [now] I do not want to say [it] in a letter [MTY].
14 Maar ik hoop u haast te zien, en wij zullen mond tot mond spreken. Vrede zij u. De vrienden groeten u. Groet de vrienden met name.
Instead, I expect to [come and] see you soon. Then we will talk directly with one another. [I pray that God will enable] you [to experience inner] peace. Our friends [here] (send you their greetings/say that they are thinking affectionately about you) [MTY]. Tell our friends [there] that we (send our greetings to/are thinking fondly about) them.
