3 John 1

1The Ancient, to the dearly beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2Dearly beloved, concerning all things I make it my prayer that thou mayest proceed prosperously and fare well, as thy soul doth prosperously.

3I was exceedingly glad when the brethren came and gave testimony to the truth in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4I have no greater grace than this, to hear that my children walk in truth. No greater grace… that is nothing that gives me greater joy and satisfaction.

5Dearly beloved, thou dost faithfully whatever thou dost for the brethren: and that for strangers,

6Who have given testimony to thy charity in the sight of the church. Whom thou shalt do well to bring forward on their way in a manner worthy of God:

7Because, for his name they went out, taking nothing of the Gentiles. Taking nothing of the Gentiles… These ministers of the gospel are commended by St. John, who took nothing from the Gentiles, lest they should seem to preach in order to get money by it.

8We therefore ought to receive such: that we may be fellow helpers of the truth.

9I had written perhaps to the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, doth not receive us. Diotrephes who loveth… This man seemeth to be in power, but not a friend to the faithful; therefore this part of the letter might be an admonition to him from the apostle.

10For this cause, if I come, I will advertise his works which he doth, with malicious words prating against us. And as if these things were not enough for him, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that do receive them he forbiddeth, and casteth out of the church.

11Dearly 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.

12To Demetrius, testimony is given by all, and by the truth itself: yea and we also give testimony. And thou knowest that our testimony is true.

13I had many things to write unto thee: but I would not by ink and pen write to thee.

14But I hope speedily to see thee: and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.

1Senior Gajo carissimo, quem ego diligo in veritate.

2Carissime, de omnibus orationem facio prospere te ingredi, et valere sicut prospere agit anima tua.

3Gavisus sum valde venientibus fratribus, et testimonium perhibentibus veritati tuæ, sicut tu in veritate ambulas.

4Majorem horum non habeo gratiam, quam ut audiam filios meos in veritate ambulare.

5Carissime, fideliter facis quidquid operaris in fratres, et hoc in peregrinos,

6qui testimonium reddiderunt caritati tuæ in conspectu ecclesiæ : quos, benefaciens, deduces digne Deo.

7Pro nomine enim ejus profecti sunt, nihil accipientes a gentibus.

8Nos ergo debemus suscipere hujusmodi, ut cooperatores simus veritatis.

9Scripsissem forsitan ecclesiæ : sed is qui amat primatum gerere in eis, Diotrephes, non recipit nos:

10propter hoc si venero, commonebo ejus opera, quæ facit, verbis malignis garriens in nos : et quasi non ei ista sufficiant, neque ipse suscipit fratres : et eos qui suscipiunt, prohibet, et de ecclesia ejicit.

11Carissime, noli imitari malum, sed quod bonum est. Qui benefacit, ex Deo est : qui malefacit, non vidit Deum.

12Demetrio testimonium redditur ab omnibus, et ab ipsa veritate, sed et nos testimonium perhibemus : et nosti quoniam testimonium nostrum verum est.

13Multa habui tibi scribere : sed nolui per atramentum et calamum scribere tibi.

14Spero autem protinus te videre, et os ad os loquemur.

15Pax tibi. Salutant te amici. Saluta amicos nominatim.

1Ὁ πρεσβύτερος Γαΐῳ τῷ ἀγαπητῷ, ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ.

2ἀγαπητέ, περὶ πάντων εὔχομαί σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν, καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή.

3ἐχάρην [γὰρ] λίαν ἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν καὶ μαρτυρούντων σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, καθὼς σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς.

4μειζοτέραν τούτων οὐκ ἔχω χάριν, ἵνα ἀκούω τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ περιπατοῦντα.

5ἀγαπητέ, πιστὸν ποιεῖς ὃ ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοῦτο ξένους,

6οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας, οὓς καλῶς ποιήσεις προπέμψας ἀξίως τοῦ θεοῦ:

7ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνικῶν.

8ἡμεῖς οὖν ὀφείλομεν ὑπολαμβάνειν τοὺς τοιούτους, ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ.

9ἔγραψά τι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ: ἀλλ' ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.

10διὰ τοῦτο, ἐὰν ἔλθω, ὑπομνήσω αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιεῖ, λόγοις πονηροῖς φλυαρῶν ἡμᾶς: καὶ μὴ ἀρκούμενος ἐπὶ τούτοις οὔτε αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει καὶ ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει.

11ἀγαπητέ, μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν. ὁ ἀγαθοποιῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν: ὁ κακοποιῶν οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν θεόν.

12Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων καὶ ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας: καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν, καὶ οἶδας ὅτι ἡ μαρτυρία ἡμῶν ἀληθής ἐστιν.

13Πολλὰ εἶχον γράψαι σοι, ἀλλ' οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν:

14ἐλπίζω δὲ εὐθέως σε ἰδεῖν, καὶ στόμα πρὸς στόμα λαλήσομεν.

15εἰρήνη σοι. ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι. ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατ' ὄνομα.