Greeting
1aThe elder to the beloved Gaius, bwhom I love in truth.
2Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3For cI rejoiced greatly when the brothers1 came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that dmy children are walking in the truth.
Support and Opposition
5Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for ethese brothers, fstrangers as they are, 6who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner gworthy of God. 7For they have gone out for the sake of hthe name, iaccepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
11Beloved, jdo not imitate evil but imitate good. kWhoever does good is from God; lwhoever does evil has not seen God. 12Demetrius mhas received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and nyou know that our testimony is true.
Final Greetings
13oI had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
15Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, peach by name.
Footnotes
- 1 1:3 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 5, 10
The Commendation of Demetrius
3 John 1:9–14 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 41:22 • ID: 2644The Condemnation of Diotrephes
3 John 1:9–10 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 38:24 • ID: 2643Walk in the Truth — Part One
3 John 1:1–8 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 36:54 • ID: 2641Walk in the Truth — Part Two
3 John 1:1–8 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 29:39 • ID: 2642A Study in 2 and 3 John
Walking in the Truth 2 John 1:1–13, 3 John 1:1–14 Series • ID: 16301Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.