3 John 1
1
Greeting
1From the elder.
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I truly love.
2Dear friend, I’m praying that all is well with you and that you enjoy good health in the same way that you prosper spiritually.
Encouragement for Gaius
3I was overjoyed when the brothers and sisters arrived and spoke highly of your faithfulness to the truth, shown by how you live according to the truth. 4I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth. 5Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for our brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers. 6They spoke highly of your love in front of the church. You all would do well to provide for their journey in a way that honors God, 7because they left on their journey for the sake of Jesus Christ without accepting any support from the Gentiles. 8Therefore, we ought to help people like this so that we can be coworkers with the truth.
Criticism of Diotrephes
9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, doesn’t welcome us. 10Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what he has done—making unjustified and wicked accusations against us. And as if that were not enough, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers and sisters but stops those who want to do so and even throws them out of the church! 11Dear friend, don’t imitate what is bad but what is good. Whoever practices what is good belongs to God. Whoever practices what is bad has not seen God.
Approval of Demetrius
12Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, even the truth itself. We also speak highly of him, and you know that what we say is true.
Final greeting
13I have a lot to say to you, but I don’t want to use pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face-to-face.
15Peace be with you. Your friends here greet you. Greet our friends there by name.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
3 John 1
1
1I, the elder, am writing this letter.
I am sending it to you, my dear friend Gaius. I love you because of the truth.
2Dear friend, I know that your spiritual life is going well. I pray that you also may enjoy good health. And I pray that everything else may go well with you. 3Some believers came to me and told me that you are faithful to the truth. They told me that you continue to live by it. This news gave me great joy. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living by the truth.
5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters. You are faithful even though they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. Please help them by sending them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7They started on their journey to serve Jesus Christ. They didn’t receive any help from those who aren’t believers. 8So we should welcome people like them. We should work together with them for the truth.
9I wrote to the church. But Diotrephes will not welcome us. He loves to be the first in everything. 10So when I come, I will point out what he is doing. He is saying evil things that aren’t true about us. Even this doesn’t satisfy him. So he refuses to welcome other believers. He also keeps others from welcoming them. In fact, he throws them out of the church.
11Dear friend, don’t be like those who do evil. Be like those who do good. Anyone who does what is good belongs to God. Anyone who does what is evil hasn’t really seen or known God. 12Everyone says good things about Demetrius. He lives in keeping with the truth. We also say good things about him. And you know that what we say is true.
13I have a lot to write to you. But I don’t want to write with pen and ink. 14I hope I can see you soon. Then we can talk face to face.
15May you have peace.
The friends here send their greetings. Greet each one of the friends there.
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