{{ Introduction to 3 John 67-70 AD

  John starts with a long encouragement to the believing at the congregation. Then he names Diotrephes as a false teacher who practices evil against John and others. Then gives a great testimony about Demetrius who probably stood up against Diotrephes.}}

   ^1:1 The elder to beloved Gaius, whom I love^* in truth. ^1:2 Beloved Gaius, I am praying for you to be prospered and to be sound^* {Or: healthy} concerning all things, just-as your soul is prospered. ^1:3 For^* I rejoiced exceedingly of the brethren coming and testifying of your truth, just-as you are walking in truth. ^1:4 I have no greater joy from these things, in-order-that I may hear my children are walking in the truth.

   ^1:5 Beloved, you practice faithfully whatever you worked toward the brethren and toward strangers, ^1:6 who testified to your love^* in the sight of the congregation^*; whom you will do^* well, sent onward worthily of God. ^1:7 For^* they went forth on behalf of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles. ^1:8 Therefore, we ought to receive the ones who are such, in-order-that we should become fellow workers for the truth.

   ^1:9 I wrote to the congregation^*, but Diotrephes, who loves to be their foremost one, is not accepting us. ^1:10 Because of this, if I come, I will be reminding him of his works in which he practices: gossiping against us with evil words and not being content in these, nor does he accept the brethren and he forbids the ones planning to come, and casts them out-of the congregation^*.

   ^1:11 Beloved, do not imitate the evil one, but the good one. The one practicing good is from God. The one practicing evil has not seen God. ^1:12 As for Demetrius, he has been testified of by all and by the truth itself. But we also are testifying and you^° know that our testimony is true.

   ^1:13 I was holding many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write them to you through ink and reed. ^1:14 But I hope to see you immediately and we will be speaking mouth to mouth {i.e., face to face}. Peace to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends according-to name.

   {NOTES: Please read the Preface and other non-bible sections. ^* is our universal footnoting for words contained in the ‘Definitions’ section. These words are NOT the same Greek word as the non-asterisk form; i.e., ^*FOR is different from FOR^* is different from FOR. ^° (degree sign) denotes plural forms.}