1 T he church leader writes to the much-loved Gaius. I love you because of the truth.

The Elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth!

2 D ear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way. I pray that your body is strong and well even as your soul is.

beloved, concerning all things I desire thee to prosper, and to be in health, even as thy soul doth prosper,

3 I was very happy when some Christians came and told me about how you are following the truth.

for I rejoiced exceedingly, brethren coming and testifying of the truth in thee, even as thou in truth dost walk;

4 I can have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

greater than these things I have no joy, that I may hear of my children in truth walking.

5 D ear friend, you are doing a good work by being kind to the Christians, and for sure, to the strangers.

Beloved, faithfully dost thou do whatever thou mayest work to the brethren and to the strangers,

6 T hey have told the church about your love. It will be good for you to help them on their way as God would have you.

who did testify of thy love before an assembly, whom thou wilt do well, having sent forward worthily of God,

7 T hese people are working for the Lord. They are taking nothing from the people who do not know God.

because for name they went forth, nothing receiving from the nations;

8 S o we should help such people. That way we will be working with them as they teach the truth.

we, then, ought to receive such, that fellow-workers we may become to the truth.

9 I wrote a letter to the church. But Diotrephes wants to be the leader and put himself first. He will have nothing to do with us.

I did write to the assembly, but he who is loving the first place among them -- Diotrephes -- doth not receive us;

10 S o if I come, I will show what he is doing by the bad things he is saying about us. Not only that, he will not take the Christian brothers into his home. He keeps others from doing it also. When they do, he puts them out of the church.

because of this, if I may come, I will cause him to remember his works that he doth, with evil words prating against us; and not content with these, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and those intending he doth forbid, and out of the assembly he doth cast.

11 D ear friend, do not follow what is sinful, but follow what is good. The person who does what is good belongs to God. The person who does what is sinful has not seen God.

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;

12 E veryone speaks good things about Demetrius. The truth itself speaks for him. We say the same thing also and you know we are speaking the truth.

to Demetrius testimony hath been given by all, and by the truth itself, and we also -- we do testify, and ye have known that our testimony is true.

13 I have much to write about but I do not want to write it in this letter.

Many things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,

14 I hope to see you soon and then we can talk together. May you have peace. The friends here greet you. Greet each friend there by name.

and I hope straightway to see thee, and mouth to mouth we shall speak. Peace to thee! salute thee do the friends; be saluting the friends by name.