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.

El Presbítero al amado Gayo, a quien amo yo en verdad.

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].

Carísimo, ruego que en todo prosperes y tengas, salud, así como prospera tu alma.

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.

Me alegré grandemente cuando vinieron los hermanos y testimoniaron de ti la verdad, según andas en la verdad.

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!

No hay para mí gozo mayor que el oír que mis hijos andan en la verdad.

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].

Haces obra de fe en todo cuanto trabajas a favor de los hermanos y los forasteros,

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.

los cuales en presencia de la Iglesia dieron testimonio de tu caridad. Bien harás en proveerlos para el viaje como conviene según Dios.

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].

Pues por amor de su Nombre emprendieron el viaje, sin tomar nada de los gentiles.

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.

Por tanto, debemos nosotros acoger a los tales para cooperar a la verdad.

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].

Escribí algo a la Iglesia; pero el que gusta primar entre ellos, Diótrefes, no nos admite a nosotros.

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.

Por lo cual, si voy allá le traeré a memoria las obras que hace difundiendo palabras maliciosas contra nosotros; y no contento con esto, ni él recibe a los hermanos ni se lo permite a los que quieren hacerlo y los expulsa de la Iglesia.

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.

No imites, carísimo, lo malo, sino lo bueno. El que obra el bien es de Dios; el que obra el mal no ha visto a Dios.

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].

Todos, y aun la misma verdad, dan testimonio en favor de Demetrio; nosotros también le damos testimonio; y tú sabes que nuestro testimonio es verídico.

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].

Muchas cosas tendría que escribirte, mas no quiero escribírtelas con tinta y pluma;

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.

pues espero verte en breve y entonces hablaremos cara a cara. La paz sea contigo. Los amigos te saludan. Saluda tú a los amigos uno a uno.