3 John 1

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

The elder, To the beloved 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 pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.

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 was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.

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 are walking in the truth.

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

Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.

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.

They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

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

For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from 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.

Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for 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 have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.

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.

So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting 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, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has 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 has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony 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 have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.

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.

Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.