
{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}I, the elder, to 
my dear friend Gaius, 
whom I love sincerely.
{I}2_{/}Dear friend, may 
everything go well with 
you and may you enjoy 
health of body and soul. 
{I}3_{/}I greatly 
rejoiced with the friends 
who arrived and praised 
your truth, and how you 
live the truth. 
{I}4_{/}Nothing gives me 
greater joy than to know 
that my children live in 
the truth.
{I}5_{/}Beloved, you do 
well to care for the 
brothers and sisters as 
you do. I mean those 
coming from other places. 
{I}6_{/}They spoke of 
your charity before the 
assembled Church. It will 
be well to provide them 
with what they need to 
continue their journey, 
as if you did it for God. 
{I}7_{/}In reality, they 
have set out on the road 
for his name without 
accepting anything from 
the pagans. {I}8_{/}We 
should receive such 
persons, making ourselves 
their cooperators in the 
work of the truth.
{I}9_{/}I have written 
these words to the 
Church. But Diotrephes, 
who is anxious to preside 
over it, does not 
acknowledge our 
authority. {I}10_{/}So 
when I come, I will not 
cease reproaching his 
manner of acting, since 
he discredited us with 
words of evil intent. And 
not content with that, he 
does not receive the 
friends and even 
restrains those who want 
to receive them, and 
expels them from the 
Church.
{I}11_{/}Dear friend, do 
not imitate evil, but 
only the good. Whoever 
does good is of God. 
Whoever does evil does 
not know God. 
{I}12_{/}Now about 
Demetrius: everyone 
praises him, even the 
truth itself. We, too, 
praise him, and you know 
that when we recommend 
anyone, we do it 
according to the truth. 
{I}13_{/}I have many 
things to tell you, but I 
do not want to do it in 
writing. {I}14_{/}I hope 
to see you soon, and we 
will talk face to face.
Peace be with you. Your 
friends greet you. Greet 
the friends for me, each 
one by name.

