< Ιωαννου Γ΄ 1 >
1 Ὁ πρεσβύτερος Γαΐῳ τῷ ἀγαπητῷ, ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ.
THE presbyter to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Ἀγαπητέ, περὶ πάντων εὔχομαί σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν, καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή.
Beloved, above all things I pray that thou mayest prosper, and be in sound health of body, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 ἐχάρην γὰρ λίαν ἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν καὶ μαρτυρούντων σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, καθὼς σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς.
I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came, and bore witness to thy truth, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4 μειζοτέραν τούτων οὐκ ἔχω ⸀χαράν ἵνα ἀκούω τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα ἐν ⸀τῇἀληθείᾳ περιπατοῦντα.
I have no greater joy than these tidings, that I hear my own children are walking in the truth.
5 Ἀγαπητέ, πιστὸν ποιεῖς ὃ ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ ⸀τοῦτοξένους,
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever services thou performest for the brethren, and for strangers;
6 οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας, οὓς καλῶς ποιήσεις προπέμψας ἀξίως τοῦ θεοῦ·
who have borne testimony to thy love before the church; to whom thou wilt perform a good act of service in forwarding them on their journey, in a manner worthy of God.
7 ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ⸀ἐθνικῶν
For on account of his name they went forth, receiving nothing from the heathen.
8 ἡμεῖς οὖν ὀφείλομεν ⸀ὑπολαμβάνειντοὺς τοιούτους, ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ.
We therefore ought to assist such men, that we may become fellow-labourers in the truth.
9 Ἔγραψά ⸀τιτῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ· ἀλλʼ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who affects pre-eminence over them, receiveth us not.
10 διὰ τοῦτο, ἐὰν ἔλθω, ὑπομνήσω αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιεῖ, λόγοις πονηροῖς φλυαρῶν ἡμᾶς, καὶ μὴ ἀρκούμενος ἐπὶ τούτοις οὔτε αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει καὶ ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει.
Therefore if I come I will remember his works which he doth, with wicked words prating against us; and not content with these things, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and those who are willing he hindereth, and casteth them out of the church.
11 Ἀγαπητέ, μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν. ὁ ἀγαθοποιῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν· ὁ κακοποιῶν οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν θεόν.
Beloved, be not an imitator of what is evil, but of that which is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
12 Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων καὶ ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας· καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν, καὶ ⸀οἶδαςὅτι ἡ μαρτυρία ἡμῶν ἀληθής ἐστιν.
Demetrius hath a good testimony from all men, and from the truth itself: and we also bear our testimony, and ye know that our testimony is true.
13 Πολλὰ εἶχον ⸂γράψαι σοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι ⸀γράφειν
I had many things to write; but I would not write to thee with ink and pen:
14 ἐλπίζω δὲ εὐθέως ⸂σε ἰδεῖν, καὶ στόμα πρὸς στόμα λαλήσομεν. Εἰρήνη σοι. ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι. ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατʼ ὄνομα.
but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak mouth to mouth. Peace be to thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.