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.

De ouderling, aan Gajus, den beminde, dien ik in waarheid bemin,

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].

Beminde, vóór alle dingen wensch ik dat gij welvaart en gezond zijt, zooals uw ziel welvaart!

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.

Ik ben zeer verblijd geweest, als er broeders kwamen en getuigenis gaven van uw oprechtheid, zooals gij ook in de waarheid wandelt.

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!

Grooter blijdschap toch heb ik niet, dan als ik hoor dat mijn kinderen in de waarheid wandelen.

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].

Beminde, gij handelt getrouwelijk in al wat gij doet jegens de broeders en de vreemdelingen,

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.

die getuigenis hebben gegeven van uw liefde voor het aangezicht der gemeente; en gij zult wel doen als gij ze helpt op reis, zooals dit Gode waardig is.

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].

Want zij zijn uitgegaan voor den Naam, niets nemende van de heidenen.

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.

Wij moeten dan dezulken ontvangen, opdat wij medewerkers mogen zijn aan de waarheid.

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].

Ik heb geschreven aan de gemeente; maar Diotrefes, die over hen meester wil zijn, neemt ons niet aan.

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.

Daarom, als ik kom zal ik zijn werken in gedachtenis brengen die hij doet, met slechte woorden tegen ons klappende; en daarmede nog niet tevreden zijnde ontvangt hij zelfs de broeders niet, en hij verhindert die dit zouden willen doen, en werpt ze uit de gemeente.

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.

Beminde, volgt het kwade niet na, maar het goede. Die goed doet is uit God. Die kwaad doet heeft God niet gezien.

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].

Aan Demetrius wordt getuigenis gegeven van allen en van de waarheid zelve: en wij geven ook getuigenis en gij weet dat onze getuigenis waarachtig 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].

Ik had u veel te schrijven, maar ik wil u niet schrijven met inkt en 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.

doch ik hoop u spoedig te zien, en dan zullen wij van mond tot mond spreken. Vrede zij u! De vrienden groeten u! Groet de vrienden bij name!