3 John

1 The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved! concerning all things I pray thou mayest be prospering and be in health, even as thy soul is prospering.

3 For I rejoiced exceedingly at brethren coming and bearing witness unto thy truth,—even as thou in truth art walking.

4 I have no greater favour than these things, that I should be hearing that my own children in the truth are walking.

5 Beloved! a faithful thing art thou doing, whatsoever thou shalt accomplish for them that are brethren and withal strangers,—

6 who have borne witness to thy love before the assembly: whom thou wilt do nobly to set forward worthily of God.

7 For in behalf of The Name have they gone forth, taking nothing from them of the nations.

8 We therefore ought to be sustaining such as these, that we may become fellowworkers with the truth.

9 I wrote something unto the assembly; but he who is fond of taking the first place among them—Diotrephes doth not make us welcome.

10 For this cause if I come I will bring to remembrance his works which he is doing,—with wicked words prating against us; and not content with these he neither himself maketh the brethren welcome, but them who are minded [to do it] he forbiddeth, and out of the assembly doth cast [them].

11 Beloved! be not thou imitating what is bad, but what is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth what is bad hath not seen God.

12 Unto Demetrius hath witness been borne by all and by the truth itself; howbeit we also bear witness, and thou knowest that our witness is true.

13 Many things had I to write unto thee,—but I am unwilling with ink and pen to be writing;

14 I hope however straightway to see thee, and mouth to mouth will we talk. Peace be unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.