< Ιωαννου Γ΄ 1 >
1 Ὁ πρεσβύτερος· Γαΐῳ τῷ ἀγαπητῷ, ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ.
The elder to the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Ἀγαπητέ, περὶ πάντων εὔχομαί σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν, καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 Ἐχάρην γὰρ λίαν ἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν καὶ μαρτυρούντων σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, καθὼς σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς.
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 Μειζοτέραν τούτων οὐκ ἔχω χαράν, ἵνα ἀκούω τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ περιπατοῦντα.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Ἀγαπητέ, πιστὸν ποιεῖς ὃ, ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοῦτο ξένους,
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
6 οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας, οὓς καλῶς ποιήσεις, προπέμψας ἀξίως τοῦ ˚Θεοῦ.
Who have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou shalt bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
7 Ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθαν, μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνικῶν.
Because for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
8 Ἡμεῖς οὖν ὀφείλομεν ὑπολαμβάνειν τοὺς τοιούτους, ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ.
We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellowhelpers to the truth.
9 Ἔγραψά τι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἀλλʼ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν, Διοτρέφης, οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.
I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among 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 deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content with that, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, 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, 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 Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων, καὶ ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας· καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν, καὶ οἶδας ὅτι ἡ μαρτυρία ἡμῶν ἀληθής ἐστιν.
Demetrius hath good report by all men, and by the truth itself: and, we also bear witness; and ye know that our witness is true.
13 Πολλὰ εἶχον γράψαι σοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν,
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee:
14 ἐλπίζω δὲ εὐθέως σε ἰδεῖν, καὶ στόμα πρὸς στόμα λαλήσομεν. Εἰρήνη σοι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι. Ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατʼ ὄνομα.
But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends greet thee. Greet the friends by name.