| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 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 you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul 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 rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. | 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 walk in truth. | 4I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth. |
| 5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, | 5Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. |
| 6who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, | 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, |
| 7because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. | 7since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans. |
| 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. | 8Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth. |
| 9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. | 9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. |
| 10Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, 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. He who does good is of God, but he 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 a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, 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 had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; | 13I have many things to write you, but I don't want to write to you with pen and ink. |
| 14but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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