| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1From: The Elder To: My dear friend Gaius, whom I genuinely love. | 1The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. |
| 2Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy. | 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. |
| 3I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth. | 3For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. |
| 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living according to the truth. | 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. |
| 5Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. | 5Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, |
| 6They have testified before the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. | 6who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. |
| 7After all, they went on their trip for the sake of the Name, accepting no support from gentiles. | 7For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. |
| 8Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become genuine helpers with them. | 8Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. |
| 9I wrote a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not recognize our authority. | 9I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. |
| 10For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to receive the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church. | 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. |
| 11Dear 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. | 11Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. |
| 12Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this report, and you know that our testimony is true. | 12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. |
| 13Although I have a great deal to write to you, I would rather not write with pen and ink. | 13I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. |
| 14Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak face to face. [15] May peace be with you! Your friends greet you. Greet each of our friends by name. | 14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. [15] Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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