| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. | 1The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth: |
| 2Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. | 2Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers. |
| 3Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. | 3For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk. |
| 4I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. Caring for the Lord’s Workers | 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. |
| 5Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. | 5Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you. |
| 6They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. | 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. |
| 7For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. | 7For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. |
| 8So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. | 8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth. |
| 9I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. | 9I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction. |
| 10When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. | 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. |
| 11Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. | 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. |
| 12Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth. Conclusion | 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. |
| 13I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. | 13I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink. |
| 14For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face. [15] Peace be with you. Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there. | 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. |
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