| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1From: The Elder To: My dear friend Gaius, whom I genuinely love. | 1From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, 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. | 2Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is 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, just as you are living according to 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 living according to the truth. |
| 5Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. | 5Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though 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 before the church. You will do well to send them on their way 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 forth on behalf of "The Name," accepting nothing from the pagans. |
| 8Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become genuine helpers with them. | 8Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation 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 be first among them, does not acknowledge 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. | 10Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing--the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws 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. | 11Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad 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 been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to 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 to you, but I do not wish 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. | 14But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name. |
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