1 ¶ El anciano al amado Gayo, al cual yo amo en la verdad.

The elderly elder to the beloved (esteemed) Gaius, whom I truly love.

2 A mado, yo deseo que tú seas prosperado en todas las cosas, y que seas sano, así como tu alma está en prosperidad.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and may keep well, even as your soul keeps well and prospers.

3 ¶ Ciertamente me gocé mucho cuando vinieron los hermanos y dieron testimonio de la verdad que hay en ti, así como tú andas en la verdad.

In fact, I greatly rejoiced when the brethren from time to time arrived and spoke of the sincerity and fidelity of your life, as indeed you do live in the Truth.

4 N o tengo yo mayor gozo que éste, el oír que mis hijos andan en la verdad.

I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are living their lives in the Truth.

5 A mado, fielmente haces todo lo que haces para con los hermanos, y con los extranjeros,

Beloved, it is a fine and faithful work that you are doing when you give any service to the brethren, and strangers.

6 l os cuales han dado testimonio de tu caridad en presencia de la Iglesia; a los cuales si ayudares como conviene según Dios, harás bien.

They have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to forward them on their journey in a way worthy of God’s.

7 P orque ellos salieron por amor de su Nombre, no tomando nada de los gentiles.

For these have gone out for the Name’s sake (for His sake) and are accepting nothing from the Gentiles (the heathen, the non-Israelites).

8 N osotros, pues, debemos recibir a los tales, para que seamos cooperadores a la verdad.

So we ourselves ought to support such people, in order that we may be fellow workers in the Truth (the whole Gospel) and cooperate with its teachers.

9 ¶ Yo he escrito a la Iglesia; mas Diótrefes, que ama tener el primado entre ellos, no nos recibe.

I have written briefly to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to take the lead among them and put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority and refuses to accept my suggestions or to listen to me.

10 P or esta causa, si yo fuere, daré a entender las obras que hace, hablando con palabras maliciosas contra nosotros; y no contento con estas cosas, no recibe a los Hermanos, y prohibe a los que los quieren recibir, y los echa de la Iglesia.

So when I arrive, I will call attention to what he is doing, his boiling over and casting malicious reflections upon us with insinuating language. And not satisfied with that, he refuses to receive and welcome the brethren himself, and also interferes with and forbids those who would welcome them, and tries to expel (excommunicate) them from the church.

11 A mado, no sigas lo que es malo, sino lo que es bueno. El que hace bien es de Dios; mas el que hace mal, no ha visto a Dios.

Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen (discerned or experienced) God.

12 ¶ Todos dan testimonio de Demetrio, y aun la misma verdad; y también nosotros damos testimonio; y vosotros habéis conocido que nuestro testimonio es verdadero.

Demetrius has warm commendation from everyone—and from the Truth itself; we add our testimony also, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 Y o tenía muchas cosas que escribirte; pero no quiero escribirte con tinta y pluma,

I had much to write, but I prefer not to put it down with pen (a reed) and ink;

14 p orque espero verte en breve, y hablaremos cara a cara. Paz sea contigo. Los amigos te saludan. Saluda tú a los amigos por nombre.

I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. Peace be to you! (Good-bye!) The friends here send you greetings. Remember me to the friends there by name.