THE THIRD EPISTLE GENERAL OF
JOHN
3 John ©
The apostle, after the superscription and the salutation, 3 Greatly praises the godliness of Gaius, to whom he writes this epistle, 4 For which he also rejoices, 5 And chiefly he praises his hospitality towards the brethren, who were constrained to travel into strange countries for the Gospel’s sake, 6 And exhorts him to persevere therein. 9 Complains of one Diotrephes, that he sought to be master in the congregation, reproached the apostle, and hindered the receiving of such brethren. 11 Exhorts Gaius not to follow that evil example. 12 And recommends one Demetrius unto him, to whom he gives good testimony. 13 Concludes with a declaration, why he wrote not a longer epistle unto him. 14 And with mutual salutations.
THE 1elder unto the wellbeloved 2Gaius, 3whom I love in the truth.
Beloved, I wish 4above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even 5as thy soul prospereth.
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the 6truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest 7in the truth.
I have no greater joy than to hear that 8my children walk in truth.
Beloved, thou doest 9faithfully 10whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to 11strangers;
Which have borne witness of 12thy charity 13before the church: whom if thou bring 14forward on their journey 15after a godly sort,a thou shalt do well:
Because that 16for his name's sake they went forth, 17taking nothing of the Gentiles.
We therefore ought 18to receive 19such, that we might be 20fellowhelpers to the truth.
I 21wrote 22unto the church: but Diotrephes, who 23loveth to have the preeminence among them, 24receiveth us not.
Wherefore, 25if I come, I will 26remember 27his deeds which he doeth, 28pratingb against 29us with 30malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive 31the brethren, and 32forbiddeth them 33that would, and 34casteth them out of the church.
Beloved, followc not that which is 35evil, but that which is good. He that doeth 36good is of God: but he 37that doeth evil hathd38not seen God.
Demetrius hath 39good report of 40all men, and 41of the truth itself: yea, and 42we also bear record; and ye know 43that our record is true.
Ie had 44many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
But I trust I shall 45shortly see thee, and we shall speak 46face to face. 47Peace be to thee. Our 48friends salute thee. Greet 49the friends 50by name.