3 John 1

1From the elder. To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well and that your body is as healthy as your soul.

3It made me very glad when some believers came and told me how true you are, and how you keep living in the truth.

4Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living in the truth.

5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you do for the believers, even for those who are strangers to you.

6They told the church about your love. Please help them on their journey in a way that honors God.

7They went out to serve the name of Christ, and they took no help from people who do not believe.

8So we should welcome people like this, to work together for the truth.

9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not listen to us.

10So when I come, I will bring up what Diotrephes is doing: Diotrephes tells lies about us with evil words. And Diotrephes is not satisfied with that. Diotrephes refuses to welcome traveling believers, stops other believers who want to welcome them, and puts those believers out of the church.

11Dear friend, do not copy what is evil, but copy what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God, but whoever does evil has not seen God.

12Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that what we say is true.

13I have much to write to you, but I do not want to write it with pen and ink.

14I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet each friend there by name.