3 John 1
1 The Elder to his dear friend Gaius. Truly I love you.
The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in 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 all things 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 brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living in obedience to the truth.
Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children 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, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;
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.
who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:
7 For it is for Christ that they have gone forth, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
because that for the sake of the Name 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 welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers with 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 somewhat 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.
Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth, 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, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: 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 the witness of all [men], and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness 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 unto thee, but I am unwilling to write [them] to thee with ink and pen:
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 hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace [be] unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.
