| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New Living Translation |
| 1The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. | 1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. |
| 2Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. | 2Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. |
| 3For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. | 3Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. |
| 4I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. | 4I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. Caring for the Lord’s Workers |
| 5Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; | 5Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. |
| 6and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. | 6They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. |
| 7For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. | 7For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. |
| 8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth. | 8So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. |
| 9I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. | 9I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. |
| 10For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. | 10When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. |
| 11Beloved, 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. | 11Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. |
| 12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. | 12Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth. Conclusion |
| 13I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; | 13I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. |
| 14but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. (15) Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. | 14For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face. [15] Peace be with you. Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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