1 E L anciano al muy amado Gaio, al cual yo amo en verdad.

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

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

Dear 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.

3 C iertamente me gocé mucho cuando vinieron los hermanos y dieron testimonio de tu verdad, así como tú andas en la verdad.

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

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

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

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

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

6 L os cuales han dado testimonio de tu amor en presencia de la iglesia: á los cuales si ayudares como conviene según Dios, harás bien.

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

7 P orque ellos partieron por amor de su nombre, no tomando nada de los Gentiles.

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

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

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

9 Y o he escrito á la iglesia: mas Diótrefes, que ama tener el primado entre ellos, no nos recibe.

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.

10 P or esta causa, si yo viniere, recordaré las obras que hace parlando con palabras maliciosas contra nosotros; y no contento con estas cosas, no recibe á los hermanos, y prohibe á los que los quieren recibir, y los echa de la iglesia.

So 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.

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 á Dios.

Dear 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.

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

Everyone 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.

13 Y o tenía muchas cosas que escribirte; empero no quiero escribirte por tinta y pluma:

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

14 P orque espero verte en breve, y hablaremos boca á boca. sea contigo. Los amigos te saludan. Saluda tú á los amigos por nombre.

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.