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 an den geliebten Gajus, den ich liebe in 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].

Geliebter, ich wünsche, daß es dir in allen Stücken wohl gehe, und du gesund seiest wie es deiner Seele wohl ergeht.

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.

Es freute mich sehr, als Brüder kamen und deiner Wahrhaftigkeit Zeugnis gaben, wie du denn in der Wahrheit wandelst.

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, wie 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].

Geliebter, du handelst treulich in dem, was du an den Brüdern, und zumal an denen tust, die aus der Ferne kommen,

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.

Und die von deiner Liebe vor der Gemeinde Zeugnis gaben, und du wirst wohl tun, wenn du ihnen auf eine Gottes würdige Weise forthilfst.

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 ausgegangen 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 gebührt es uns denn, solche aufzunehmen, auf daß wir der Wahrheit Vorschub tun.

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 schrieb an die Gemeinde, aber Diotrephes, der unter ihnen will der Erste 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 vermahnen ob seinen Werken, die er tut, indem er übel von uns spricht, und es nicht dabei bewenden läßt, und die Brüder nicht annimmt, und die, so es tun wollen, aus der Gemeinde stößt.

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.

Geliebter, folge nicht dem Bösen nach, sondern dem Guten. Wer Gutes tut, ist aus Gott, wer Böses tut, hat Gott nicht geschaut.

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 von jedermann ein gutes Zeugnis, und von der Wahrheit selbst, und auch wir zeugen

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 hätte dir noch viel zu schreiben, allein ich will es nicht mit Tinte und Feder tun.

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, dich bald zu sehen, und dann wollen wir es mündlich besprechen. Friede sei mit dir! Es grüßen dich die Freunde. Grüße die Freunde, jeden mit Namen.