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.

Der Älteste: Gajus, dem Lieben, den ich liebhabe in der Wahrheit.

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].

Mein Lieber, ich wünsche in allen Stücken, daß dir's wohl gehe, und gesund seiest, wie es denn deiner Seele wohl gehet.

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.

Ich bin aber sehr erfreuet, da die Brüder kamen und zeugeten von deiner Wahrheit, wie denn du wandelst in der Wahrheit.

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!

Ich habe keine größere Freude denn die, daß ich höre meine Kinder in der Wahrheit wandeln.

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].

Mein Lieber, du tust treulich, was du tust an den Brüdern und Gästen,

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 von deiner Liebe gezeuget haben vor der Gemeinde; und du hast wohl getan, daß du sie abgefertiget hast würdiglich vor Gott.

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].

Denn um seines Namens willen sind sie ausgezogen und haben von den Heiden nichts genommen.

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.

So sollen wir nun solche aufnehmen, auf daß wir der Wahrheit Gehilfen werden.

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].

Ich habe der Gemeinde geschrieben; aber Diotrephes, der unter ihnen will hochgehalten sein, nimmt uns nicht an.

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.

Darum, wenn ich komme, will ich ihn erinnern seiner Werke, die er tut, und plaudert mit bösen Worten wider uns und lässet sich an dem nicht genügen. Er selbst nimmt die Brüder nicht an und wehret denen, die es tun wollen, und stößet sie aus der Gemeinde.

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.

Mein Lieber, folge nicht nach dem Bösen, sondern dem Guten! Wer Gutes tut, der ist von Gott; wer Böses tut, der siehet Gott nicht.

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 hat Zeugnis von jedermann und von der Wahrheit selbst; und wir zeugen auch, und ihr wisset, daß unser Zeugnis wahr ist.

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].

Ich hatte viel zu schreiben; aber ich wollte nicht mit Tinte und Feder an dich schreiben.

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.

Ich hoffe aber, dich bald zu sehen, so wollen wir mündlich miteinander reden.