3 John 1

1 From the elder to his dear friend Gaius, whom he sincerely loves.

作長老的寫信給親愛的該猶，就是我誠心所愛的。

2 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.

親愛的兄弟啊，我願你凡事興盛，身體健壯，正如你的靈魂興盛一樣。

3 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.

有弟兄來證明你心裏存的真理，正如你按真理而行，我就甚喜樂。

4 Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from time to time that the lives of my children are guided by the truth.

我聽見我的兒女們按真理而行，我的喜樂就沒有比這個大的。

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in all the things you do for other followers – even when they are strangers to you.

親愛的兄弟啊，凡你向作客旅之弟兄所行的都是忠心的。

6 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.

他們在教會面前證明了你的愛；你若配得過上帝，幫助他們往前行，這就好了。

7 For it was on behalf of Christ’s name that they set out, not accepting even one thing from the Gentiles.

因他們是為主的名出外，對於外邦人一無所取。

8 Therefore, we should support people like them, and so take our share in their work for the truth.

所以我們應該接待這樣的人，叫我們與他們一同為真理做工。

9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes (who loves to be the leader among them) doesn’t welcome us.

我曾略略地寫信給教會，但那在教會中好為首的丟特腓不接待我們。

10 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.

所以我若去，必要提說他所行的事，就是他用惡言妄論我們。還不以此為足，他自己不接待弟兄，有人願意接待，他也禁止，並且將接待弟兄的人趕出教會。

11 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.

親愛的兄弟啊，不要效法惡，只要效法善。行善的屬乎上帝；行惡的未曾見過上帝。

12 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.

低米丟行善，有眾人給他作見證，又有真理給他作見證，就是我們也給他作見證。你也知道我們的見證是真的。

13 I have many things to tell you, but I would rather not use pen and ink.

我原有許多事要寫給你，卻不願意用筆墨寫給你，

14 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.

但盼望快快地見你，我們就當面談論。 願你平安。眾位朋友都問你安。請你替我按着姓名問眾位朋友安。