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.

Старець. Улюбленому Гаєві, якого я люблю в істині.

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].

Любий [брате], я молюся, щоб ти був здоровий і щоб процвітав у всьому, як процвітає твоя душа.

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.

Бо я неймовірно зрадів, коли брати прийшли й засвідчили про твою вірність істині, як ти ходиш в істині.

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!

Я не маю більшої радості, ніж чути, що мої діти живуть в істині.

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].

Любий, ти показуєш вірність в усьому, що б ти не робив для братів, [навіть якщо вони] незнайомі.

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.

Вони засвідчили про твою любов перед церквою, і добре зробиш, якщо відправиш [їх] у дорогу так, як до вподоби Богові.

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].

Бо вони пішли заради імені [Ісуса], не взявши нічого від язичників.

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.

Тож ми повинні допомагати таким, як вони, щоб бути співпрацівниками істини.

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].

Я написав щось церкві, але Діотреф, прагнучи мати першість, не приймає нас.

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.

Тому, коли я прийду, нагадаю діла, які він робить, обмовляючи нас лихими словами. Та й на цьому не зупиняється: сам братів не приймає, і тих, хто хоче [приймати], зупиняє та виганяє з церкви.

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.

Любий, не наслідуй зла, але [наслідуй] добро. Той, хто робить добро, є від Бога, а той, хто робить зло, не бачив Бога.

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].

Деметріос від усіх отримав добре свідчення, навіть від істини. І ми також свідчимо, і ти знаєш, що наше свідчення істинне.

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].

Я мав би багато чого тобі написати, але не хочу чорнилом і пером.

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.

Я сподіваюся скоро відвідати тебе, і ми поговоримо віч-на-віч. Мир тобі! Друзі вітають тебе. Привітай [там] поіменно кожного з друзів.