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John says ‘Hello’ to Gaius

1 This letter comes from me, the leader of the believers. I am writing to you, my friend Gaius. I love you because we believe God's true message. 2 My friend, I pray that God will help you to live well. I know that you are well in your spirit. I pray that your body will also be well. 3 I was very happy when I heard news about you. Some Christian friends came here to tell me about you. They said that you are living in a good way. That is the way that God's true message tells us to live. 4 I am happy when I hear that my children are living like that. When they obey God's true message, it makes me very happy.

Continue to help people

5 My friend, you do many things to help other believers. You help them even when they are strangers to you. This shows that you are serving God well. 6 These men have spoken to the group of believers here about your love. Please continue to help them when they visit you. Give them the things that they need to continue on their journey. That will make God happy. 7 They are travelling to different places to tell people about Jesus Christ. They do not accept any gifts from those people who are not Christians. 8 Because of that, we Christians must help them with the things that they need. In this way we will be working together with them as they tell people the true message about Christ.

Diotrephes is causing problems

9 I have already written something to the group of believers. But Diotrephes refuses to accept our authority. He really wants to be the only leader among them. 10 So, when I arrive there myself, I will speak to the believers about this. I will tell them clearly about the bad things that Diotrephes is doing. He tells other people bad things about us that are not true. Even that is not enough for him. He himself refuses to welcome the believers who are visiting. He also stops anyone else who wants to welcome those visitors. [ a ] Instead, he sends them away from the group of believers.

Copy what good people do

11 My friend, do not copy what bad people do. Instead, you should copy the good things that people do. The person who does good things shows that he belongs to God. But anyone who does bad things does not know God.

12 All the believers say that Demetrius is a good person. He obeys God's true message. That also shows clearly that he is a good person. We also say the same thing about him. You know very well that what we say about him is true.

John finishes his letter

13 I would like to tell you many more things. But I do not want to write them in a letter. 14 Instead, I hope to come and visit you soon. Then I can see you and we can talk together.

15 I pray that God will give you peace. All your Christian friends here say ‘hello’ to you. Say ‘hello’ for me to each of my friends there, one by one.

Footnotes

  1. 1:10 These visitors are Christians who are travelling to different places to teach the message about Jesus Christ. See 3 John 1:7 .

1 Greetings from the Elder. [ a ]

To my dear friend Gaius, a person I truly love.

2 My 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. 3 Some believers came and told me about the truth [ b ] in your life. They told me that you continue to follow the way of truth. This made me very happy. 4 It always gives me the greatest joy when I hear that my children are following the way of truth.

5 My dear friend, it is good that you continue to help the believers. They are people you don’t even know. 6 They told the church about the love you have. Please help them to continue their trip. Help them in a way that will please God. 7 They went on their trip to serve Christ. They did not accept any help from people who are not believers. 8 So we should help them. When we help them, we share with their work for the truth.

9 I wrote a letter to the church, but Diotrephes will not listen to what we say. He always wants to be the leader. 10 When 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.

11 My 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.

12 Everyone 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.

13 I have many things I want to tell you. But I don’t want to use pen and ink. 14 I hope to visit you soon. Then we can be together and talk. 15 Peace to you. The friends here with me send their love. Please give our love to each one of the friends there.

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 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).
  2. 3 John 1:3 truth The truth or “Good News” about Jesus Christ that joins all believers together. Also in verses 8, 12.

1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

A Good Report

1 ( A ) The elder to the beloved ( B ) Gaius, whom I ( C ) love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I ( D ) was overjoyed when ( E ) brothers came and testified to your truth, that is , how you ( F ) are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than [ a ] this, to hear of ( G ) my children ( H ) walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the ( I ) brothers and sisters , and [ b ] especially when they are ( J ) strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to [ c ] ( K ) send them on their way in a manner ( L ) worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of ( M ) the Name, ( N ) accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to [ d ] support such people, so that we may [ e ] prove to be fellow workers [ f ] with the truth.

9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to ( O ) be first among them, does not accept [ g ] what we say. 10 For this reason, ( P ) if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with malicious words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not ( Q ) receive the ( R ) brothers either, and he forbids those who want to do so and ( S ) puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, ( T ) do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. ( U ) The one who does what is good is of God; ( V ) the one who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius ( W ) has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we testify too, and ( X ) you know that our testimony is true.

13 ( Y ) I had many things to write to you, but I do not want to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak [ h ] face to face.

15 ( Z ) Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends ( AA ) by name.

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:4 Lit these things, that I hear
  2. 3 John 1:5 Lit this
  3. 3 John 1:6 I.e., give them whatever they might need for the journey
  4. 3 John 1:8 Or receive as guests
  5. 3 John 1:8 Or become fellow
  6. 3 John 1:8 Or for
  7. 3 John 1:9 Lit us
  8. 3 John 1:14 Lit mouth to mouth

1 The elder, ( A )

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Dear 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. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers ( B ) came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. ( C ) 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children ( D ) are walking in the truth. ( E )

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, [ a ] ( F ) even though they are strangers to you. ( G ) 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way ( H ) in a manner that honors ( I ) God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name ( J ) that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. ( K ) 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, ( L ) 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. ( M ) He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. ( N )

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. ( O ) Anyone who does what is good is from God. ( P ) Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. ( Q ) 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone ( R ) —and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. ( S )

13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. ( T )

15 Peace to you. ( U ) The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. ( V )

Footnotes

  1. 3 John 1:5 The Greek word for brothers and sisters ( adelphoi ) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
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