3 John 1

1 The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!

I, a ruler in the church, send word to the well loved Gaius, for whom I have true love.

2 Beloved, I desire you to prosper concerning all things, and to be in health, even as your soul prospers,

My loved one, it is my prayer that you may do well in all things, and be healthy in body, even as your soul does well.

3 for I rejoiced exceedingly, brothers coming and testifying of the truth in you, even as you walk in truth;

For it gave me great joy when some of the brothers came and gave witness that you had the true faith and were walking in the true way.

4 I have no joy greater than these things, that I may hear of my children walking in truth.

I have no greater joy than to have news that my children are walking in the true way.

5 Beloved, you act faithfully in whatever you may do toward the brothers and the one [among] strangers,

My loved one, you are doing a good work in being kind to those brothers who come from other places;

6 who testified of your love before an assembly, whom you will do well, having sent forward worthily of God,

Who have given witness to the church of your love for them: and you will do well to send them on their way well cared for, as is right for servants of God:

7 because they went forth for [His] Name, receiving nothing from the nations;

For they went out for love of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

8 we, then, ought to receive such, that we may become fellow-workers to the truth.

So it is right for us to take in such men as guests, so that we may take our part in the work of the true faith.

9 I wrote to the assembly, but he who is loving to be first among them—Diotrephes—does not receive us;

I sent a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, whose desire is ever to have the first place among them, will not have us there.

10 because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he does, talking nonsense against us with evil words; and not content with these, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and he forbids those intending [to receive them], and he casts [them] out of the assembly.

So if I come, I will keep in mind the things he does, talking against us with evil words: and as if this was not enough, he does not take the brothers into his house, and those who are ready to take them in, he keeps from doing so, putting them out of the church if they do.

11 Beloved, do not be following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, he is of God, [but] he who is doing evil has not seen God;

My loved one, do not be copying what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God: he who does evil has not seen God.

12 testimony has been given to Demetrius by all, and by the truth itself, and we also—we testify, and you have known that our testimony is true.

Demetrius has the approval of all men and of what is true: and we give the same witness, and you are certain that our witness is true.

13 Many things I had to write, but I do not wish to write to you through ink and pen,

I had much to say to you, but it is not my purpose to put it all down with ink and pen:

14 and I hope to see you soon, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace to you! The friends greet you. Be greeting the friends by name.

But I am hoping to see you in a short time, and to have talk with you face to face. May you have peace. Your friends here send you their love. Give my love to our friends by name.