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.

Den Ældste til Kajus, den elskede, hvem jeg elsker i Sandhed.

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].

Du elskede! jeg ønsker, at det i alle Ting maa gaa dig vel, og du maa være karsk, ligesom det gaar din Sjæl vel.

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.

Thi jeg blev meget glad, da der kom Brødre og vidnede om Sandheden i dig, hvorledes du vandrer i Sandheden.

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!

Jeg har ingen større Glæde end denne, at jeg hører, at mine Børn vandre i Sandheden.

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].

Du elskede! en trofast Gerning gør du i alt, hvad du virker for Brødrene, og det for fremmede,

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.

hvilke have vidnet for Menigheden om din Kærlighed; og du vil gøre vel i at fremme deres Rejse saaledes, som det er Gud værdigt.

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].

Thi for Navnets Skyld ere de dragne ud, uden at tage noget af Hedningerne.

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.

Derfor ere vi skyldige at tage os af saadanne, for at vi kunne blive Medarbejdere for Sandheden.

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].

Jeg har skrevet noget til Menigheden; men Diotrefes, som gerne vil være den ypperste iblandt dem, anerkender os ikke.

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.

Derfor vil jeg, naar jeg kommer, erindre om de Gerninger, han gør, idet han bagvadsker os med onde Ord; og ikke tilfreds dermed, tager han baade selv ikke Brødrene for gode, og dem, som ville det, forhindrer han deri og udstøder dem af Menigheden.

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.

Du elskede! efterfølg ikke det onde, men det gode. Den, som gør godt, er af Gud; den, som gør ondt, har ikke set Gud.

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].

Demetrius har et godt Vidnesbyrd af alle og af Sandheden selv; ogsaa vi vidne, og du ved, at vort Vidnesbyrd er sandt.

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].

Jeg havde meget at skrive til dig, men jeg vil ikke skrive til dig med Blæk og Pen.

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.

Men jeg haaber snart at se dig, og da skulle vi mundtligt tale sammen. Fred være med dig! Vennerne hilse dig. Hils Vennerne, hver især!