Ιωαννου Γ΄ 1
1 ο πρεσβυτερος γαιω τω αγαπητω ον εγω αγαπω εν αληθεια
From the elder to his dear friend Gaius, whom he sincerely loves.
2 αγαπητε περι παντων ευχομαι σε ευοδουσθαι και υγιαινειν καθως ευοδουται σου η ψυχη
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.
3 εχαρην γαρ λιαν ερχομενων αδελφων και μαρτυρουντων σου τη αληθεια καθως συ εν αληθεια περιπατεις
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.
4 μειζοτεραν τουτων ουκ εχω χαραν ινα ακουω τα εμα τεκνα εν αληθεια περιπατουντα
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from time to time that the lives of my children are guided by the truth.
5 αγαπητε πιστον ποιεις ο εαν εργαση εις τους αδελφους και εις τους ξενους
Dear friend, you are faithful in all the things you do for other followers – even when they are strangers to you.
6 οι εμαρτυρησαν σου τη αγαπη ενωπιον εκκλησιας ους καλως ποιησεις προπεμψας αξιως του θεου
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.
7 υπερ γαρ του ονοματος εξηλθον μηδεν λαμβανοντες απο των εθνων
For it was on behalf of Christ’s name that they set out, not accepting even one thing from the Gentiles.
8 ημεις ουν οφειλομεν απολαμβανειν τους τοιουτους ινα συνεργοι γινωμεθα τη αληθεια
Therefore, we should support people like them, and so take our share in their work for the truth.
9 εγραψα τη εκκλησια αλλ ο φιλοπρωτευων αυτων διοτρεφης ουκ επιδεχεται ημας
I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes (who loves to be the leader among them) doesn’t welcome us.
10 δια τουτο εαν ελθω υπομνησω αυτου τα εργα α ποιει λογοις πονηροις φλυαρων ημας και μη αρκουμενος επι τουτοις ουτε αυτος επιδεχεται τους αδελφους και τους βουλομενους κωλυει και εκ της εκκλησιας εκβαλλει
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.
11 αγαπητε μη μιμου το κακον αλλα το αγαθον ο αγαθοποιων εκ του θεου εστιν ο κακοποιων ουχ εωρακεν τον θεον
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.
12 δημητριω μεμαρτυρηται υπο παντων και υπ αυτης της αληθειας και ημεις δε μαρτυρουμεν και οιδατε οτι η μαρτυρια ημων αληθης εστιν
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.
13 πολλα ειχον γραφειν αλλ ου θελω δια μελανος και καλαμου σοι γραψαι
I have many things to tell you, but I would rather not use pen and ink.
14 ελπιζω δε ευθεως ιδειν σε και στομα προς στομα λαλησομεν ειρηνη σοι ασπαζονται σε οι φιλοι ασπαζου τους φιλους κατ ονομα
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.
