| Berean Study Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth: | 1The elder: To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. |
| 2Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers. | 2Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well. |
| 3For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk. | 3For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth--how you are walking in truth. |
| 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. | 4I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth. |
| 5Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you. | 5Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. |
| 6They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. | 6They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, |
| 7For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. | 7since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans. |
| 8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth. | 8Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth. |
| 9I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction. | 9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. |
| 10So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church. | 10This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering 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. |
| 11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. | 11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. |
| 12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true. | 12Everyone speaks well of Demetrius--even the truth itself. And we also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. |
| 13I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink. | 13I have many things to write you, but I don't want to write to you with pen and ink. |
| 14Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name. | 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. 15 Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name. |
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