| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1From: The Elder To: My dear friend Gaius, whom I genuinely love. | 1The Elder: To my dear friend Gaius: I love you in the truth. |
| 2Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy. | 2Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually. |
| 3I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth. | 3For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified to your faithfulness to the truth--how 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 this: 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. | 5Dear friend, you are showing faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. |
| 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. | 6They have testified to your love in front of 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. | 7since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans. |
| 8Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become genuine helpers with them. | 8Therefore, we ought to support such men so that we can be coworkers with the truth. |
| 9I wrote a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not recognize our authority. | 9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive us. |
| 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. | 10This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from 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. | 11Dear friend, 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. |
| 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 a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, 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 have many things to write you, but I don't want to write to you 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. Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name. |
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