Third John

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2  Beloved, I pray that all may be well with you and that you be in good health just as it is well with your inner spiritual self.

3  For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, just as you are walking in truth.

4  I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

5  Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brethren, even though they are strangers;

6  they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

7  For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

8  Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be coworkers with the truth.

9  I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.

10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, slandering us with evil words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, and hinders the people who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

12  Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself; and we also testify and you know that our testimony is true.

13  I have many things to write to you, but I do not want to write them to you with pen and ink;

14  but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face.

15  Peace be to you. The friends here greet you.  Greet the friends there by name.