A "Grain Of Wheat" Ministries publication

Translated by David W. Dyer

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The Third Letter of John

THIRD JOHN CHAPTER 1

1:1The elder brother to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. 1:2Beloved, I pray that you would prosper in all areas of life and be in good health in the same way that your soul prospers [through being transformed].

1:3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of your faithfulness to the truth, even as you walk in truth. 1:4I don’t have any greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

1:5Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you do for those who are brethren, even when they are strangers to you. 1:6These have testified about your love towards them before the gathering of the called-out ones.

You do the right thing to help them along on their journey in a way which is worthy of God 1:7because they have gone out for the sake of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles.* 1:8We, therefore, ought to welcome such brothers so that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.

*This probably refers to Gentiles who have not been converted. John is implying us that we should not take money from the world to do spiritual work.

1:9I wrote some things to the community of the called-out ones. But Diotrephes, who is ambitious to be seen as “the leader” among them, doesn’t receive us.

1:10Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the things which he does, which include spreading malicious rumors about us. And not being satisfied with this evil, he doesn’t receive the brethren who come from other places, and those who are willing to receive them he prohibits. And if they disobey him he throws them out of the gathering of the called-out ones.

1:11Beloved, don’t imitate what is evil but imitate that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who practices evil has not known God intimately through experience.

1:12Demetrius has a good testimony from all men and of the truth itself. Yes, we also testify concerning him and you know that our testimony is true.

1:13I have many things to write to you but I am unwilling to write them to you with pen and ink 1:14but I hope to see you soon and then we will speak face to face.

Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Words in this translation found in italics are words which are implied by the Greek text but do not represent actual words in the Greek text. This practice is common in almost all modern translations. Occasionally, this translator has added words to the translation which represent his own ideas and opinions which, although they are based on his own biblical understanding, are not part of the actual Greek text. Such words are enclosed in brackets, like this [ ]. The reader should understand these words as being the opinion of the translator. In contrast to this, the words in these braces { } indicate legitimate, alternative translations or explanations. Words within parentheses () are part of the original Greek text. Such parentheses are often used in other New Testament translations also.

End of The Third Letter of John

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