| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. | 1From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in 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. | 2Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. |
| 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. | 3For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the 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 living according to the truth. |
| 5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. | 5Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). |
| 6They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. | 6They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. |
| 7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. | 7For they have gone forth on behalf of "The Name," accepting nothing from the pagans. |
| 8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. | 8Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth. |
| 9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. | 9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge 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. | 10Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing--the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws 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. | 11Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad 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. | 12Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to 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. | 13I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you 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. | 14But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name. |
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