1:1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
1:2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
1:3 For I was overjoyed when brothers came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.
1:4 I have no greater joy than ①this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
▷ ①Lit these things, that I hear
1:5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brothers and sisters, and ①especially when they are strangers;
▷ ①Lit this
1:6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to ①send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
▷ ①I.e., give them whatever they might need for the journey
1:7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
1:8 Therefore we ought to ①support such people, so that we may ②prove to be fellow workers ③with the truth.
▷ ①Or receive as guests ②Or become fellow ③Or for
1:9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept ①what we say.
▷ ①Lit us
1:10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with malicious words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brothers either, and he forbids those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does what is good is of God; the one who does what is evil has not seen God.
1:12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we testify too, and you know that our testimony is true.
1:13 I had many things to write to you, but I do not want to write to you with pen and ink;
1:14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak ①face to face.
▷ ①Lit mouth to mouth
1:15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.