Iohannis Iii 1

1 Senior Gajo carissimo, quem ego diligo in veritate.

The elder to beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Carissime, de omnibus orationem facio prospere te ingredi, et valere sicut prospere agit anima tua.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be healthy, just as it is well with your soul.

3 Gavisus sum valde venientibus fratribus, et testimonium perhibentibus veritati tuæ, sicut tu in veritate ambulas.

For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and bore witness to your truth, just as you walk in truth.

4 Majorem horum non habeo gratiam, quam ut audiam filios meos in veritate ambulare.

I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children walk in the truth.

5 Carissime, fideliter facis quidquid operaris in fratres, et hoc in peregrinos,

Beloved, you practice faithfulness whenever you work for the brothers and for strangers

6 qui testimonium reddiderunt caritati tuæ in conspectu ecclesiæ: quos, benefaciens, deduces digne Deo.

who have borne witness of your love in the presence of the church. You do well to send them off on their journey in a manner worthy of God,

7 Pro nomine enim ejus profecti sunt, nihil accipientes a gentibus.

because it was for the sake of the name that they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

8 Nos ergo debemus suscipere hujusmodi, ut cooperatores simus veritatis.

We therefore should welcome such as these, so that we will be fellow workers for the truth.

9 Scripsissem forsitan ecclesiæ: sed is qui amat primatum gerere in eis, Diotrephes, non recipit nos:

I wrote something to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not receive us.

10 propter hoc si venero, commonebo ejus opera, quæ facit, verbis malignis garriens in nos: et quasi non ei ista sufficiant, neque ipse suscipit fratres: et eos qui suscipiunt, prohibet, et de ecclesia ejicit.

So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. Not satisfied with that, he not only refused to welcome the brothers himself, but he also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church.

11 Carissime, noli imitari malum, sed quod bonum est. Qui benefacit, ex Deo est: qui malefacit, non vidit Deum.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not 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 is borne witness to by all and by the truth itself. We also bear witness, 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 do not wish to 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 expect to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. May peace be with you. The friends greet you. Greet our friends there by name.