3 John

VIN(i) 1 The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth: 2 Beloved, I pray that you may be in good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 Because it gave me great joy when some brothers came and testified to the truth about you, how you are walking in Truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers. 6 They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 because it was for the sake of the Name that they went out, accepting nothing from pagans. 8 We therefore ought to welcome such, so that we may work together for the Truth. 9 I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping against us with evil words. And not satisfied with that, he refuses himself to welcome the brethren, and also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The person who does what is good is from God. The person who does what is evil has never seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—even by the truth itself. Yes, we also speak well of him, and we know that our testimony is true. 13 I had much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink; 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.