Iohannis Iii 1
1 Senior Gaio charissimo, quem ego diligo in veritate.
The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I sincerely love in truth:
2 Charissime, de omnibus orationem facio prospere te ingredi, et valere, sicut prospere agit anima tua.
Beloved, I pray that in all ways you may prosper and be in good health, just as I know that your soul prospers.
3 Gavisus sum valde venientibus fratribus, et testimonium perhibentibus veritati tuæ, sicut tu in veritate ambulas.
For I rejoiced greatly when some brothers came and testified about the truth that is in you, as indeed you do walk in the truth.
4 Maiorem horum non habeo gratiam, quam ut audiam filios meos in veritate ambulare.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Charissime, fideliter facis quidquid operaris in fratres, et hoc in peregrinos,
Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brothers and sisters, and especially when they are strangers.
6 qui testimonium reddiderunt charitati tuæ in conspectu Ecclesiæ: quos, benefaciens, deduces digne Deo.
They have testified to your sincere love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God,
7 Pro nomine enim eius profecti sunt, nihil accipientes a Gentibus.
for they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the heathen.
8 Nos ergo debemus suscipere huiusmodi, ut cooperatores simus veritatis.
Therefore we ought to support such people, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.
9 Scripsissem forsitan Ecclesiæ: sed is, qui amat primatum genere in eis, Diotrephes, non recipit nos.
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
10 propter hoc, si venero, commonebo eius opera, quæ facit: verbis malignis garriens in nos: et quasi non ei ista sufficient: neque ipse suscipit fratres: et eos, qui suscipiunt, prohibet, et de Ecclesia eiicit.
For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not satisfied with this, he himself doesn’t receive the brothers and sisters, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Charissime, noli imitari malum, sed quod bonum est. Qui benefacit, ex Deo est: qui malefacit, non vidit Deum.
Beloved, don’t imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good belongs to God; the one who does evil hasn’t seen God.
12 Demetrio testimonium redditur ab omnibus, et ab ipsa veritate, sed et nos testimonium perhibemus: et nosti quoniam testimonium nostrum verum est.
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 Multa habui tibi scribere: sed nolui per atramentum et calamum scribere tibi.
I had many things to write to you, but I would rather not write them to you with pen and ink;
14 Spero autem protinus te videre, et os ad os loquemur. Pax tibi. Salutant te amici. Saluta amicos nominatim.
but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
