1:1 From the Elder -- To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.
1:2 My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health--as I know you are well in spirit.
1:3 I was so happy when some Christian brothers arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth--just as you always live in the truth.
1:4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.
1:5 My dear friend, you are so faithful in the work you do for your fellow Christians, even when they are strangers.
1:6 They have spoken to the church here about your love. Please help them to continue their trip in a way that will please God.
1:7 For they set out on their trip in the service of Christ without accepting any help from unbelievers.
1:8 We Christians, then, must help these people, so that we may share in their work for the truth.
1:9 I wrote a short letter to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to be their leader, will not pay any attention to what I say.
1:10 When I come, then, I will bring up everything he has done: the terrible things he says about us and the lies he tells! But that is not enough for him; he will not receive the Christian brothers when they come, and even stops those who want to receive them and tries to drive them out of the church!
1:11 My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God.
1:12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius; truth itself speaks well of him. And we add our testimony, and you know that what we say is true.
1:13 I have so much to tell you, but I do not want to do it with pen and ink.
1:14 I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk personally.
1:15 Peace be with you. All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.
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