| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. | 1The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. |
| 2Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. | 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. |
| 3For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. | 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. | 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. |
| 5Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, | 5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. |
| 6who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. | 6They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. |
| 7For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. | 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. |
| 8Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. | 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. |
| 9I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. | 9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. |
| 10So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. | 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. |
| 11Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. | 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 has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. | 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 had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. | 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. [15] Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. | 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. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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