1 The Elder,
To dear Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may be successful in all things and be healthy, even as your life is successful. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when some brothers came and reported about your truth, how you walk in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth.
5 Dear friend, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers. 6 They have reported about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God, 7 because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the peoples of the world. 8 We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9 I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t welcome us. 10 Therefore if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, talking nonsense about us with evil words. And not content with this, neither does he welcome the brothers himself, and those who want to, he forbids and throws out of the assembly. 11 Dear friend, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God. 12 Demetrius is spoken well of by all, and by the truth itself; yes, we also speak well of him, and you know that our report is true.
13 I had many things to write to you, but I don’t want to write to you with ink and pen; 14 but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.