3Jo | ISV | STEP | Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

3 John

Little children, guard yourselves from idols. ^{▼▼Other mss. read idols. Amen}1Cor 10:14

1 The Letter Called Third JohnGreetings from JohnFrom ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks From} the elder to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in truth.2John 1:1

2 Encouragement for GaiusDear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy. 3 For I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth.2John 1:4 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.1Cor 4:15

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. 6 They have testified before the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 After all, they went on their trip for the sake of Christ's ^{▼▼Lit. the} name, accepting no support from the Gentiles.1Cor 9:12, 15 8 Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become their helpers in spreading ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks spreading} the truth. 9 Criticism of DiotrephesI wrote a letter ^{▼▼Lit. wrote something} to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not accept us. 10 For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to accept the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church. 11 Praise for DemetriusDear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The person who does what is good is from God. The person who does what is evil has never seen God.Ps 37:27; Isa 1:16-17; 1Pet 3:11; 1John 2:29 12 Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this, and you know that our testimony is true.John 21:24; 1Tim 3:7

13 Final GreetingAlthough I have a great deal to write to you, I would rather not write with pen and ink.2John 1:12 14 Instead, I hope to see you soon and talk face to face.

May peace be with you! Your friends greet you. Greet each of our friends by name.