1 The Elder vnto the beloued Gaius, whom I loue in the trueth. 2 Beloued, I wish chiefly that thou prosperedst and faredst well as thy soule prospereth. 3 For I reioyced greatly when the brethren came, and testified of the trueth that is in thee, how thou walkest in the trueth. 4 I haue no greater ioy then these, that is, to heare that my sonnes walke in veritie. 5 Beloued, thou doest faithfully, whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers, 6 Which bare witnesse of thy loue before the Churches. Whom if thou bringest on their iourney as it beseemeth according to God, thou shalt doe well, 7 Because that for his Names sake they went forth, and tooke nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receiue such, that we might be helpers to the trueth. 9 I wrote vnto the Church: but Diotrephes which loueth to haue the preeminence among them, receiueth vs not. 10 Wherefore if I come, I will call to your remembrance his deedes which he doeth, pratling against vs with malicious wordes, and not therewith content, neither he himselfe receiueth the brethren, but forbiddeth them that woulde, and thrusteth them out of the Church. 11 Beloued, follow not that which is euill, but that which is good: he that doeth well, is of God: but he that doeth euill, hath not seene God. 12 Demetrius hath good report of al men, and of the trueth it selfe: yea, and wee our selues beare recorde, and ye know that our record is true. 13 I haue many things to write: but I will not with yncke and pen write vnto thee: 14 For I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speake mouth to mouth. Peace be with thee. The friends salute thee. Greete the friends by name.
1 From the Elder—
To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.
2 My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit. 3 I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth—just as you always live in the truth. 4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.
Gaius Is Praised
5 My dear friend, you are so faithful in the work you do for other Christians, even when they are strangers. 6 They have spoken to the church here about your love. Please help them to continue their trip in a way that will please God. 7 For they set out on their trip in the service of Christ without accepting any help from unbelievers. 8 We Christians, then, must help these people, so that we may share in their work for the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9 I wrote a short letter to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to be their leader, will not pay any attention to what I say. 10 When I come, then, I will bring up everything he has done: the terrible things he says about us and the lies he tells! But that is not enough for him; he will not receive the Christians when they come, and even stops those who want to receive them and tries to drive them out of the church!
11 My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God.
12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius; truth itself speaks well of him. And we add our testimony, and you know that what we say is true.
Final Greetings
13 I have so much to tell you, but I do not want to do it with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk personally.
15 Peace be with you.
All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.