3 John 1
1 The Elder vnto the beloued Gaius, whom I loue in the trueth.
From the elder to his dear friend Gaius, whom he sincerely loves.
2 Beloued, I wish chiefly that thou prosperedst and faredst well as thy soule prospereth.
Dear friend, I pray that all may be well with you and that you may have good health – I know that all is well with your soul.
3 For I reioyced greatly when the brethren came, and testified of the trueth that is in thee, how thou walkest in the trueth.
For it was a great joy to me, when some followers of the Lord came and testified to your fidelity to the truth. I know that your own life is guided by the truth.
4 I haue no greater ioy then these, that is, to heare that my sonnes walke in veritie.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from time to time that the lives of my children are guided by the truth.
5 Beloued, thou doest faithfully, whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers,
Dear friend, you are faithful in all the things you do for other followers – even when they are strangers to you.
6 Which bare witnesse of thy loue before the Churches. Whom if thou bringest on their iourney as it beseemeth according to God, thou shalt doe well,
They themselves have testified before the church to your love. You will do well to help them on their way in a manner worthy of the service of God.
7 Because that for his Names sake they went forth, and tooke nothing of the Gentiles.
For it was on behalf of Christ’s name that they set out, not accepting even one thing from the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receiue such, that we might be helpers to the trueth.
Therefore, we should support people like them, and so take our share in their work for the truth.
9 I wrote vnto the Church: but Diotrephes which loueth to haue the preeminence among them, receiueth vs not.
I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes (who loves to be the leader among them) doesn’t welcome us.
10 Wherefore if I come, I will call to your remembrance his deedes which he doeth, pratling against vs with malicious wordes, and not therewith content, neither he himselfe receiueth the brethren, but forbiddeth them that woulde, and thrusteth them out of the Church.
So if I come, I will bring up his actions in telling wicked nonsense about us. Not content with that, he not only refuses to personally welcome our friends who are followers, but actually stops those who would, and expels them from the church.
11 Beloued, follow not that which is euill, but that which is good: he that doeth well, is of God: but he that doeth euill, hath not seene God.
Dear friend, do not follow a bad example, but a good one. The person who does what is good is from God; the person who does what is bad has never seen God.
12 Demetrius hath good report of al men, and of the trueth it selfe: yea, and wee our selues beare recorde, and ye know that our record is true.
Everyone has always had a good word for Demetrius, and the truth itself speaks for him. Yes, and we also add our good word, and you know that what we say is true.
13 I haue many things to write: but I will not with yncke and pen write vnto thee:
I have many things to tell you, but I would rather not use pen and ink.
14 For I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speake mouth to mouth. Peace be with thee. The friends salute thee. Greete the friends by name.
I hope to see you soon, and then we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here send you their greetings. Greet each one of our friends.
