3 John 1

1The elder, to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2Dear friend, my prayer is that you are doing well in every way and are in good health, just as your soul is doing well. 3It made me very glad when brothers and sisters arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, how you are walking in the truth. 4No joy of mine is greater than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in all you do for the brothers and sisters, strangers though they are to you. 6They have testified before the church to your love. You will do well to supply them for the next stage of their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7They set out for the sake of the Name, and they take nothing from the pagans. 8It is our duty, then, to take in and support such people, and so become fellow workers with the truth.

9I wrote a few lines to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, refuses to receive us. 10That is why, if I come, I will remind the church of what he is doing, spreading empty and wicked talk about us. And that is not enough for him: he will not receive the brothers and sisters himself, he hinders those who want to receive them, and he drives them out of the church.

11Dear friend, do not copy what is bad, but what is good. The person who does good is from God; the person who does evil has not seen God. 12Everyone testifies in favor of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. We too testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13There is a great deal I could write to you, but I do not want to put it down in ink with a pen. 14I hope instead to see you very soon, and then we can speak face to face. 15Peace be with you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of the friends there by name.