3 John 1
1
1The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,#1:5 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of Godʼs family. even though they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone — and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
13I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
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3 John 1
1
Greeting
1The elder:#2Jn 1
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.#Jn 14:6; 1Jn 5:20
2Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health,#1Tm 1:10 just as your whole life is going well.#2 Or as your soul prospers 3For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified#Jn 15:26; Ac 26:5 to your fidelity to the truth — how you are walking in truth.#2Jn 4 4I have no greater joy#Jn 15:11 than this: to hear that my children#1Co 4:14; Gl 4:19; Php 2:22 are walking in truth.
Gaius Commended
5Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. 6They have testified to your love before the church.#Mt 16:18; 1Co 14:4; Rv 1:4 You will do well to send them on their journey#Ac 15:3; 20:38; 21:5; Rm 15:24; 1Co 16:6; 2Co 1:16; Ti 3:13 in a manner worthy of God,#1Co 10:31; 1Th 2:12 7since they set out for the sake of the Name,#Jn 10:25; Ac 15:14; Rv 14:1 accepting nothing from pagans.#7 Or Gentiles#1Co 9:15–18 8Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them,#Mt 20:25–28; 23:5–12; Col 1:18; 1Pt 5:2–3; 2Jn 9 does not receive our authority.#Ac 18:27; Rm 16:1–2; 2Co 3:1 10This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering#1Tm 5:13 us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil,#1Pt 3:17 but what is good. The one who does good is of God;#1Jn 4:4 the one who does evil has not seen God.#Ex 33:20 12Everyone speaks well of Demetrius — even the truth itself. And we also speak well of him, and you know#1Jn 2:20–21 that our testimony is true.#Jn 21:24
Farewell
13I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
15Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.
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