^aThe elder to the beloved ^bGaius, whom I ^clove in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I ^arejoiced greatly when ^bbrothers came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you ^care walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than ¹this, to hear that ^amy children are ^bwalking in the truth.

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever ¹work you do for the ^abrothers, and are doing this though they are ^bstrangers; 6 and they bore witness to your love before the church. You will do well to ^asend them on their way in a manner ^bworthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of ^athe Name, ^breceiving nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to ¹support such men, so that we may ²be fellow workers ³with the truth.

9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to ^abe first among them, does not welcome ¹what we say. 10 For this reason, ^aif I come, I will bring to remembrance his deeds which he does, unjustly disparaging us with wicked words. And not satisfied with this, he himself does not ^bwelcome the ^cbrothers either, and he forbids those who want to do so and ^dputs them out of the church.

11 Beloved, ^ado not imitate what is evil, but what is good. ^bThe one who does good is of God; ^cthe one who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius ^ahas received a good witness from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our witness, and ^byou know that our witness is true.

13 ^aI had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.

15 ^aPeace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends ^bby name.

^aThe elder to the beloved ^bGaius, whom I ^clove in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I ^awas overjoyed when ^bbrothers came and testified to your truth, that is, how you ^care walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than ¹this, to hear of ^amy children ^bwalking in the truth.

5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the ^abrothers and sisters, and ¹especially when they are ^bstrangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to ^1asend them on their way in a manner ^bworthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of ^athe Name, ^baccepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to ¹support such people, so that we may ²prove to be fellow workers ³with the truth.

9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to ^abe first among them, does not accept ¹what we say. 10 For this reason, ^aif I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with malicious words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not ^breceive the ^cbrothers either, and he forbids those who want to do so and ^dputs them out of the church.

11 Beloved, ^ado not imitate what is evil, but what is good. ^bThe one who does what is good is of God; ^cthe one who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius ^ahas received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we testify too, and ^byou know that our testimony is true.

13 ^aI had many things to write to you, but I do not want to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak ¹face to face.

15 ^aPeace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends ^bby name.