Iohannis Iii 1

1 Senior Gaio charissimo, quem ego diligo in veritate.

I, a ruler in the church, send word to the well loved Gaius, for whom I have true love.

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

My loved one, it is my prayer that you may do well in all things, and be healthy in body, even as your soul does well.

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

For it gave me great joy when some of the brothers came and gave witness that you had the true faith and were walking in the true way.

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

I have no greater joy than to have news that my children are walking in the true way.

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

My loved one, you are doing a good work in being kind to those brothers who come from other places;

6 qui testimonium reddiderunt charitati tuae in conspectu Ecclesiae: quos, benefaciens, deduces digne Deo.

Who have given witness to the church of your love for them: and you will do well to send them on their way well cared for, as is right for servants of God:

7 Pro nomine enim eius profecti sunt, nihil accipientes a Gentibus.

For they went out for love of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

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

So it is right for us to take in such men as guests, so that we may take our part in the work of the true faith.

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

I sent a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, whose desire is ever to have the first place among them, will not have us there.

10 propter hoc si venero, commonebo eius opera, quae facit: verbis malignis garriens in nos: et quasi non ei ista sufficiant: neque ipse suscipit fratres: et eos, qui suscipiunt, prohibet, et de Ecclesia eiicit.

So if I come, I will keep in mind the things he does, talking against us with evil words: and as if this was not enough, he does not take the brothers into his house, and those who are ready to take them in, he keeps from doing so, putting them out of the church if they do.

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

My loved one, do not be copying what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God: he 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 has the approval of all men and of what is true: and we give the same witness, and you are certain that our witness is true.

13 Multa habui tibi scribere: sed nolui per atramentum et calamum scribere tibi.

I had much to say to you, but it is not my purpose to put it all down with ink and pen:

14 Spero autem protinus te videre, et os ad os loquemur. Pax tibi. Salutant te amici. Saluta tu amicos nominatim.

But I am hoping to see you in a short time, and to have talk with you face to face. May you have peace. Your friends here send you their love. Give my love to our friends by name.