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.
Currently Selected:
3 John 1: CEB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers