Greeting

1The Elder:a

To my dear friendb Gaius: I love you in the truth.c

2Dear friend,d I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physicallye just as you are spiritually.f 3For I was very glad when some •brothers came and testifiedg to your faithfulness to the truth — how you are •walking in the truth.h 4I have no greater joyi than this: to hear that my childrenj are walking in the truth.

Gaius Commended

5Dear friend,k you are showing faithfulnessl by whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. 6They have testified to your love in front of the church.m You will do well to send them on their journeyn in a manner worthy of God,o 7since they set out for the sake of the Name,p accepting nothing from pagans.q 8Therefore, we ought to support such men so that we can be coworkers withr the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them,s does not receive us.t 10This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slanderingu us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.

11Dear friend,v do not imitate what is evil,w but what is good. The one who does good is of God;x the one who does evil has not seen God.y 12Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you knowz that our testimony is true.aa

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.ab

Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.