3 John 1

1 The Elder to his dear friend Gaius. Truly I love you.

The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 My dear friend, I pray that you may in all respects prosper and enjoy good health, just as your soul already prospers.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 For it is an intense joy to me when brethren come and bear witness to your fidelity to the truth--that you live in obedience to the truth.

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living in obedience to the truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5 My dear friend, you are acting faithfully in all your behaviour towards the brethren, even when they are strangers to you.

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

6 They have testified, in the presence of the Church, to your love; and you will do well to help them on their journey in a manner worthy of your fellowship with God.

Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

7 For it is for Christ that they have gone forth, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 It is therefore our duty to show hospitality to such men, so that we may be fellow workers in promoting the truth.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

9 I wrote to the Church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the first place among them, refuses to listen to us.

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10 For this reason, if I come, I shall not forget his conduct, nor his idle and mischievous talk against us. And he does not stop there: he not only will not receive the brethren, but those who desire to do this he hinders, and excludes them from the Church.

Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth [them] out of the church.

11 My dear friend, do not follow wrong examples, but right ones. He who habitually does what is right is a child of God: he who habitually does what is wrong has not seen God.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

12 The character of Demetrius has the approval of all men, and of the truth itself. We also express our approval of it, and you know that we only give our approval to that which is true.

Demetrius hath good report of all [men], and of the truth itself: yea, and we [also] bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

13 I have a great deal to say to you, but I do not wish to go on writing it with ink and pen.

I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

14 But I hope to see you very soon, and then we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. Our friends send greetings to you. Greet our friends individually.

But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace [be] to thee. [Our] friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.