3 John 1:11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

◄ 3 John 1:11 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

English Standard Version
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

New American Standard Bible
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

King James Bible
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

International Standard Version
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The person who does what is good is from God. The person who does what is evil has never seen God.

American Standard Version
Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Dearly beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doth good, is of God: he that doth evil, hath not seen God.

Darby Bible Translation
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He that does good is of God. He that does evil has not seen God.

Young's Literal Translation
Beloved, be not thou following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, of God he is, and he who is doing evil hath not seen God;

Cross References

Psalm 34:14
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 37:27
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for ever more.

1 John 2:29
If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.

1 John 3:6
Whoever stays in him sins not: whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.

1 John 3:9
Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1 John 3:10
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Jump to Previous

Beloved Child Dear Evil Examples Follow Following Friend Good Habitually Hasn't Imitate Loved Ones Right Wrong

Jump to Next

Beloved Child Dear Evil Examples Follow Following Friend Good Habitually Hasn't Imitate Loved Ones Right Wrong

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1:9-12 Both the heart and mouth must be watched. The temper and spirit of Diotrephes was full of pride and ambition. It is bad not to do good ourselves; but it is worse to hinder those who would do good. Those cautions and counsels are most likely to be accepted, which are seasoned with love. Follow that which is good, for he that doeth good, as delighting therein, is born of God. Evil-workers vainly pretend or boast acquaintance with God. Let us not follow that which is proud, selfish, and of bad design, though the example may be given by persons of rank and power; but let us be followers of God, and walk in love, after the example of our Lord.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. follow not that which is evil—as manifested in Diotrephes (3Jo 9, 10).

but … good—as manifested in Demetrius (3Jo 12).

is of God—is born of God, who is good.

hath not seen God—spiritually, not literally.