3 John
King James Version
1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
11 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.
12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
3 John
1599 Geneva Bible
The Third Epistle of John
1 He commendeth Gaius for hospitality, 9 and reprehendeth Diotrephes for vainglory: 10 he exhorteth Gaius to continue in well doing: 12 and in the end commendeth Demetrius.
1 The [a]Elder unto the beloved Gaius whom I love in the truth.
2 Beloved, I wish chiefly that thou prosperedst and faredst well as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I rejoiceth greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, how thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than [b]these, that is, to hear that my sons walk in verity.
5 Beloved, thou doest [c]faithfully, whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers,
6 Which bore witness of thy love before the Churches, Whom if thou [d]bringest on their journey as it seemeth according to God, thou shalt do well,
7 Because that for his Name’s sake they went forth, and took nothing of the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be [e]helpers to the truth.
9 [f]I wrote unto the Church, but Diotrephes which loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore if I come, I will call to your remembrance his deeds which he doeth, prattling against us with malicious words, and not therewith content, neither he himself receiveth the brethren, but forbideth them that would, and thrusteth them out of the Church.
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good: he that doeth well is of God: but he that doeth evil, hath not [g]seen God.
12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we ourselves bear record, and ye know that our record is true.
13 I have many things to write: but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
14 For I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak mouth to mouth. Peace be with thee. The friends salute thee. Greet thy friends by name.
Footnotes
- 3 John 1:1 An example of a Christian gratulation.
- 3 John 1:4 Than these joys.
- 3 John 1:5 As becometh a believer and a Christian.
- 3 John 1:6 He commendeth to Gaius either those selfsame men whom he had entertained before, returning now again to him about the affairs of the Church, or else some other which had like business.
- 3 John 1:8 That we ourselves may help somewhat to the preaching of the truth.
- 3 John 1:9 Ambition and covetousness, two pestilent plagues (especially in them which have any Ecclesiastical function) are condemned in Diotrephes’ person.
- 3 John 1:11 Hath not known God.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
