| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: | 1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. |
| 2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. | 2Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. |
| 3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. | 3Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. |
| 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. | 4I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. Caring for the Lord’s Workers |
| 5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, | 5Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. |
| 6who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, | 6They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. |
| 7because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. | 7For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. |
| 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. | 8So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. |
| 9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. | 9I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. |
| 10Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. | 10When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. |
| 11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. | 11Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. |
| 12Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. | 12Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth. Conclusion |
| 13I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; | 13I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. |
| 14but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. | 14For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face. [15] Peace be with you. Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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