{{ 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, having 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 himself 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.}