1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth[a].
May You Prosper In All Things, Just As Your Soul Is Prospering Because You Walk In The Truth
2 Beloved, I pray[b] that with respect to all things you may prosper and be healthy, just as your soul is prospering. 3 For I rejoiced greatly while brothers were coming and testifying concerning your truth— how[c] you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no joy greater than these things: that I may be hearing-of my children walking in the truth.
Beloved, Support Fellow Workers For The Truth
5 Beloved, you are doing a faithful thing— whatever you may accomplish[d]— for the brothers (and this, for strangers!) 6 who testified concerning your love before the church, as to whom you will do well having sent-them-forward worthily of God. 7 For they went out for the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to be supporting such ones, in order that we may be[e] fellow-workers[f] for the truth.
Diotrephes Is Not Accepting Us. Beloved, Imitate The One Doing Good
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, the one loving-to-be-first[g] among them, is not accepting[h] us. 10 For this reason, if I come I will call-to-mind[i] his deeds which he is doing— talking-nonsense-about[j] us with malicious words. And not being content with these things, neither is he himself accepting the brothers. And he is forbidding and putting-out[k] of the church the ones wanting to do so. 11 Beloved, do not be imitating the evil, but the good. The one doing-good is from God. The one doing-evil has not seen God.
Demetrius Is Attested By Everyone
12 With regard to Demetrius, he has been attested by everyone, and by the truth itself. And we also are testifying, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I had many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with ink and pen. 14 But I hope to see you at-once, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:1 Or, in the truth, in-connection-with the truth.
- 3 John 1:2 I pray... be healthy. Or, I pray that you may prosper with respect to all things, and be healthy.
- 3 John 1:3 Or, just as, in as much as.
- 3 John 1:5 Or, do, carry out, work out.
- 3 John 1:8 Or, become.
- 3 John 1:8 Or, co-workers.
- 3 John 1:9 Or, loving-to-have-preeminence.
- 3 John 1:9 Or, receiving.
- 3 John 1:10 Or, remember.
- 3 John 1:10 Or, more formally, bringing-unjustified-charges-against.
- 3 John 1:10 Or, expelling, driving-out.