3 John 1

1 THE Elder, to my beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Our beloved; in all things, I pray for thee that thou mayest prosper and be in health, as thy soul doth prosper.

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified concerning thy integrity, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 And I have no greater joy, than to hear that my children walk in the truth.

5 Our beloved, thou doest in faith, what thou performest towards the brethren; and especially towards strangers,

6 who have borne testimony to thy charity before the whole church, to whom thou doest good, as is pleasing to God.

7 For they went forth in behalf of his name, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such persons, that we may be aiders of the truth.

9 I was desirous of writing to the church; but he who loveth to be foremost among them, Diotrephes, receiveth us not.

10 Therefore, if he come, remember those his doings, that he treated us with malignant words; and this not sufficing him, he received not the brethren; and those who would receive them, he prohibited, and even ejected them from the church.

11 Our beloved, be not a follower of what is evil, but of what is good. He that doeth good, is of God; but he that doeth evil, hath not seen God.

12 Of Demetrius, there is good testimony from every one, and from the church, and from the truth itself: and we also bear him testimony, and ye know that our testimony is true.

13 I had many things to write to thee; but I will not write them to thee with ink and pen.

14 But I hope soon to see thee, and to converse mouth to mouth. [ (III John 1:15) Peace be with thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends, severally, by name. ]