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.

The elder To Gaius the beloved whom I myself love in truth.

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].

Beloved, concerning all things I pray you to do well and to be in good health even as does well your soul.

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.

I rejoiced for exceedingly when were coming [the] brothers and those bearing witness from you to the to truth, even as you yourself in truth are walking.

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!

Greater than these things not I have (joy *NK+O) that I may hear of my children in (the *no) truth walking.

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].

Beloved, faithfully you are doing whatever maybe you shall do for the brothers and (for *k) (that [thing] *N+kO) strangers,

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.

who testified of your love before [the] church, whom well you will do having set forward worthily of God.

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].

On behalf for of the name they went forth nothing accepting from the (Gentile [people]. *N+kO)

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.

We ourselves therefore ought (to receive *N+kO) such [men] so that fellow workers we may be in the truth.

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].

I have written (something *no) to the church; but the [one] loving to be first among them Diotrephes not welcomes us.

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.

Because of this, if I shall come, I will bring to remembrance of him the works which he is doing, with words evil prating against us; and not being satisfied with these, neither himself he receives the brothers, and those purposing he forbids and from the church he casts [them] out.

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.

Beloved, not do imitate what [is] evil but what [is] good. The [one] doing good of God is; the [one] (now *k) doing evil not has seen God.

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].

To Demetrius witness has been given by all and by itself the truth; and we ourselves also bear witness, and (you know *N+kO) that the testimony of us true is.

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].

Many things I had (to write *N+kO) (to you, *no) but not I desire with ink and pen to you (to write; *N+kO)

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.

I hope however soon you to see and mouth to mouth we will speak. Peace to you. Greet you the friends. do greet the friends by name.