3John  ◦   Chapter 1

1From your pastor and teacher, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth:

2Dear friend, I pray that all things are well with you, that your health is good, and your mind is sharp, clear and at peace.3My heart was filled with joy when some brothers told me of your fidelity, loyalty, and unwavering constancy to the truth.4There is nothing that brings me greater happiness than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5Dear friend, your consistent ministry and service to others–even to strangers–demonstrates how faithfully you reveal the truth of God's character of love.6Those you have ministered to have told the church how loving you have been — in keeping with God’s methods and principles — by providing whatever assistance they needed.7Their mission was to proclaim and make known God's true character, and that is why they accepted no help from those who did not know God.8Therefore, we should render assistance and be hospitable to such people, for we are all on the same team–God's team–working together to reveal the truth about him.

9Earlier, I wrote similar counsel to the church, but Diotrephes likes to be in charge and devalues my teachings.10This is terribly destructive and must be corrected, so when I come, I will expose with the truth his lies, gossip, and slander. But he doesn’t just lie and slander — he also refuses to aid fellow-workers for Christ. Not only that, but he also tries to stop others, who want to render assistance, from doing so, even threatening to disfellowship them.

11Dear friend, don't get duped into imitating evil, but always do what is good. Anyone who does what is good is able to do so only because they have received goodness from God. Anyone who does evil has not been reunited with God.12Everyone speaks well of Demetrius: the truth itself verifies that he is in unity of heart and mind with God, and we also confirm how well he represents God in all he does–and you know we only speak the truth.

13I have so much more I want to write, but I don't want to use pen and ink.14I hope to be with you soon and talk face to face.