3 John 1
1
1Greetings from the Elder.#1:1 Elder This is probably John the apostle. “Elder” means an older man or a special leader in the church (as in Titus 1:5).
To my dear friend Gaius, a person I truly love.
2My dear friend, I know that you are doing well spiritually. So I pray that everything else is going well with you and that you are enjoying good health. 3Some believers came and told me about the truth#1:3 truth The truth or “Good News” about Jesus Christ that joins all believers together. Also in verses 8, 12. in your life. They told me that you continue to follow the way of truth. This made me very happy. 4It always gives me the greatest joy when I hear that my children are following the way of truth.
5My dear friend, it is good that you continue to help the believers. They are people you don’t even know. 6They told the church about the love you have. Please help them to continue their trip. Help them in a way that will please God. 7They went on their trip to serve Christ. They did not accept any help from people who are not believers. 8So we should help them. When we help them, we share with their work for the truth.
9I wrote a letter to the church, but Diotrephes will not listen to what we say. He always wants to be the leader. 10When I come, I will talk with him about what he is doing. He lies and says evil things about us, but that is not all. He refuses to welcome and help the believers who travel there. And he will not let others help them. If they do, he stops them from meeting with the church anymore.
11My dear friend, don’t follow what is bad; follow what is good. Whoever does what is good is from God. But whoever does evil has never known God.
12Everyone says good things about Demetrius, and the truth agrees with what they say. Also, we say good about him. And you know that what we say is true.
13I have many things I want to tell you. But I don’t want to use pen and ink. 14I hope to visit you soon. Then we can be together and talk. 15Peace to you. The friends here with me send their love. Please give our love to each one of the friends there.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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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