Greeting

1 The elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. ² Beloved, I hope¹ that you are in good health and prospering in every way, just as your soul is prospering. ³ For it gave me great joy when the brothers arrived and testified about the truth that is in you,² since you are indeed walking in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

A Faithful Brother

⁵ Beloved, you show great faithfulness³ whenever you act to help the brothers, even though⁴ they are strangers to you; ⁶ and they themselves⁵ have testified about your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God, ⁷ for they have gone out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸ Therefore we should support such men, so that we ourselves may become co-laborers for⁶ the truth.

A False Brother

⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who desires to be first among them, will not acknowledge our authority.^{7 10} For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing,⁸ how with wicked words he is constantly bringing baseless accusations against us.⁹ And not being satisfied with that,¹⁰ he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but also stands in the way of¹¹ of those who would like to do so, throwing them out of the church! ¹¹ Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does what is good is from God; he who does what is evil has not seen God.

Commendation, Hope, and Greeting

¹² Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone—including the truth itself. And we too bring the same testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. ¹³ I have many things to write to you, but I don’t want to write you with pen and ink; ¹⁴ instead, I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.

Peace be with you. The friends greet you. Greet all the friends by name.

Notes

1. Lit. wish, pray
2. Lit. testified to the truth of you
3. Lit. are doing faithfully
4. Or especially when
5. Lit. who
6. Or in, with
7. Lit. does not recognize us
8. Lit. his works that he does
9. Or maliciously gossiping about us
10. Lit. these things
11. Lit. hinders, prevents, forbids