
John's Third Letter

   {1:1} The Elder,

   To the beloved Gaius, whom I [1>]sincerely love[<1] in truth:

   {1:2} Beloved, I pray that in all ways you may prosper and be in
good health, just as I know that your soul prospers. {1:3} For I
rejoiced greatly when some brothers came and testified about the truth
that is in you, as indeed you do walk in the truth. {1:4} I have no
greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

   {1:5} Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish
for the brothers and sisters, and especially when they are strangers.
{1:6} They have testified to your sincere love before the church. You
will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God, {1:7}
for they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the
heathen. {1:8} Therefore we ought to support such people, that we may
be fellow workers with the truth. {1:9} I wrote to the church, but
Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn't accept what we
say. {1:10} For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his
deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not
satisfied with this, he himself doesn't receive the brothers and
sisters, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them
out of the church.

   {1:11} Beloved, don't imitate what is evil, but what is good. The
one who does good belongs to God; the one who does evil hasn't seen
God. {1:12} Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and
from the truth itself. We add our testimony, and you know that our
testimony is true. {1:13} I had many things to write to you, but I
would rather not write them to you with pen and ink; {1:14} but I hope
to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. {1:15} Peace be to
you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.



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Footnotes:
[1] {1:1} "sincere love" is used to translate "agape" (the strongest
kind of love).

