3 John

¹ From: The elder

To: Beloved Gaius, whom I truly love

² Beloved, I pray for good health and that all may go well for you, just as your very being is faring well. ³ I celebrated a great deal when the members of the Family arrived and told us about your trueness since you walk according to the truth. ⁴ I have no joy more significant than to hear my children are walking according to the truth.

⁵ Beloved, you manage to be faithful in whatever you do for the members of the Family (even being strangers)! ⁶ They reported about your love in the presence of the assembly, and you will do beautifully when you send them on in a manner appropriate to God. ⁷ Since they went out on behalf of the Name without receiving anything from the locals, ⁸ we owe it to support people like them so that we can truly become coworkers.

⁹ I wrote something to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, does not welcome us. ¹⁰ Because of this, if I come, I will emphasize the actions he is doing—making nonsensical accusations against us with harmful words! ¹¹ Beloved, don’t imitate hostility but kindness instead. Whoever acts with kindness is from God. Whoever acts with hostility has not seen God. ¹² Demetrius has been endorsed by everyone and by this truth. We also endorse him, and you have come to know that our endorsement is trustworthy.

¹³ I have many things to write to you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. ¹⁴ I hope to see you right away and speak with you face-to-face.

¹⁵ Peace be with you. The friends here wish you well. Wish the friends there well by name.