3 John 1

1 [You(sg) know me as] the [chief] Elder. [I am writing this letter to you], my dear friend Gaius, whom I truly love.

Starješina ljubljenom Gaju koga ljubim u Istini.

2 Dear friend, I ask [God that things may go] well for you in every way, [specifically], that you will be physically healthy just like you are spiritually healthy [MTY].

Ljubljeni! Želim ti u svemu dobro i da budeš zdrav, kao što je dobro tvojoj duši.

3 I am very happy because some fellow believers have come [here] and told me that you conduct your life in a manner [that is consistent with God’s] true message.

Veoma se obradovah kada dođoše braća i posvjedočiše za tvoju istinu: kako ti živiš po Istini.

4 I am very happy when I hear that (people whom I helped to believe in Christ/my [spiritual] children) are conducting their lives like you are!

Čuti da moja djeca po Istini žive! - nema mi veće radosti od toga.

5 Dear friend, you are [serving Jesus] loyally/faithfully whenever you do things to help fellow believers, [even those whom you] do not know, who are traveling [around doing God’s work].

Ljubljeni, pravi si vjernik u svemu što činiš za braću, i to za došljake.

6 [Some of] them have reported before the congregation [here how] you have showed that you love them. You should continue to help such people in their travels in a way that is pleasing to God.

Oni posvjedočiše tvoju ljubav pred Crkvom i dobro ćeš učiniti ako ih ispratiš Boga dostojno.

7 When those fellow believers went out [to tell people about Jesus] [MTY], the people who do not believe in Christ did not give them anything [to help them].

Jer poradi Imena iziđoše i ne primaju ništa od pogana.

8 So we [who believe in Christ] ought to give food and money to such people to help [them as they teach others God’s] true message.

Mi smo dakle dužni takve primati da budemo suradnici Istine.

9 I wrote [a letter] to the congregation [telling them to help those fellow believers]. However, Diotrephes does not (acknowledge my authority/[pay any attention to what] I wrote), because he (desires to be in charge/wants to be the leader) of [the congregation].

Pisao sam nešto Crkvi: ali Diotref, koji hoće da bude prvi među njima, ne prima nas.

10 So, when I arrive [there], I will [publicly] tell what he does: He tells others evil nonsense about us [in order to] harm [us by what he] says, and he is not content with only doing that. He himself refuses to receive the fellow believers who are traveling around doing God’s work, and he also stops those who want to receive them by expelling them from the congregation.

Zato ako dođem, spočitnut ću mu djela koja čini naklapajući zlobne riječi o nama. Ni to mu nije dosta, nego ne prima braće, a onima koji bi to htjeli, brani i izgoni ih iz Crkve.

11 Dear friend, do not imitate a bad [example like that]. Instead, [keep imitating] good [examples. Remember that] people who do good deeds ([truly] belong to God/are [spiritual children] of God), [but] those who do [what is] evil do not (know/have fellowship with) God.

Ljubljeni! Ne nasljeduj zlo, nego dobro. Tko dobro čini, od Boga je; tko zlo čini, nije vidio Boga.

12 All [the believers who know Demetrius] say that he [is a good person]. The fact [that he conducts his life in a way that is consistent/in accordance with God’s] true [message] shows [that he is a good person], and we also say the same thing [about him]. You know that what we say [about him] is true. [So it will be good if you welcome him and help him. He is the one who will be bringing this letter to you].

Za Demetrija svjedoče svi, i sama Istina, a i mi svjedočimo. A znaš da je naše svjedočanstvo istinito.

13 [When I began] to write this letter, I had much more [that I intended] to tell you. But [now] I do not want to say [it] in a letter [MTY].

Mnogo bih ti imao pisati, ali neću da ti pišem crnilom i perom.

14 Instead, I expect to [come and] see you soon. Then we will talk directly with one another. [I pray that God will enable] you [to experience inner] peace. Our friends [here] (send you their greetings/say that they are thinking affectionately about you) [MTY]. Tell our friends [there] that we (send our greetings to/are thinking fondly about) them.

Nadam se da ću te uskoro vidjeti pa ćemo iz usta u usta govoriti. Mir tebi! Pozdravljaju te prijatelji. Pozdravi prijatelje poimence.