Chapter 1
A Greeting from the Elder
1
The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in [the] truth:
Ὁ πρεσβύτερος τῷ ἀγαπητῷ Γαΐῳ ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ Ho presbyteros tō agapētō Gaiō hon egō agapō en alētheia — NA/TR · 1
2
Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul {also} prospers.
Ἀγαπητέ εὔχομαί περὶ πάντων σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν καθὼς σου ἡ ψυχή εὐοδοῦταί Agapēte euchomai peri pantōn se euodousthai kai hygiainein kathōs sou hē psychē euodoutai — NA/TR · 2
3
For I was overjoyed… [when the] brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in [which]… you continue to walk.
γὰρ ἐχάρην λίαν ἀδελφῶν ἐρχομένων καὶ μαρτυρούντων σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καθὼς σὺ περιπατεῖς gar echarēn lian adelphōn erchomenōn kai martyrountōn sou tē alētheia en alētheia kathōs sy peripateis — NA/TR · 3
4
I have no greater joy than to hear [that] my children are walking in the truth.
ἔχω οὐκ μειζοτέραν χαράν τούτων ἵνα ἀκούω ἐμὰ τὰ τέκνα περιπατοῦντα ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ echō ouk meizoteran charan toutōn hina akouō ema ta tekna peripatounta en tē alētheia — NA/TR · 4
Gaius Commended for Hospitality
5
Beloved, you are faithful in what… you are doing for the brothers, and [especially since] they are strangers [to you].
Ἀγαπητέ ποιεῖς πιστὸν ὃ ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοῦτο ξένους Agapēte poieis piston ho ean ergasē eis tous adelphous kai touto xenous — NA/TR · 5
6
[They] have testified to [the] church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way… in a manner worthy of God.
οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ποιήσεις καλῶς προπέμψας οὓς ἀξίως τοῦ Θεοῦ hoi emartyrēsan enōpion ekklēsias sou tē agapē poiēseis kalōs propempsas hous axiōs tou Theou — NA/TR · 6
7
For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
γὰρ ἐξῆλθον ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ὀνόματος λαμβάνοντες μηδὲν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνικῶν gar exēlthon hyper tou Onomatos lambanontes mēden apo tōn ethnikōn — NA/TR · 7
8
Therefore we ought to support such [men], so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
οὖν ἡμεῖς ὀφείλομεν ὑπολαμβάνειν τοὺς τοιούτους ἵνα γινώμεθα συνεργοὶ τῇ ἀληθείᾳ oun hēmeis opheilomen hypolambanein tous toioutous hina ginōmetha synergoi tē alētheia — NA/TR · 8
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9
I have written to the church [about this], but Diotrephes, who loves to be first…, vvv will not accept our [instruction].
Ἔγραψά τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τι ἀλλ’ Διοτρεφὴς ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς Egrapsa tē ekklēsia ti all’ Diotrephēs ho philoprōteuōn autōn ouk epidechetai hēmas — NA/TR · 9
10
So… if I come, I will call attention to - [his] malicious slander… [against] us. And vvv unsatisfied with that, vvv vvv he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting [them] out of the church.
διὰ τοῦτο ἐὰν ἔλθω ὑπομνήσω αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιεῖ πονηροῖς φλυαρῶν λόγοις ἡμᾶς καὶ μὴ ἀρκούμενος ἐπὶ τούτοις οὔτε αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ κωλύει τοὺς βουλομένους καὶ ἐκβάλλει ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας dia touto ean elthō hypomnēsō autou ta erga ha poiei ponērois phlyarōn logois hēmas kai mē arkoumenos epi toutois oute autos epidechetai tous adelphous kai kōlyei tous boulomenous kai ekballei ek tēs ekklēsias — NA/TR · 10
11
Beloved, {do} not imitate what [is] evil, but what [is] good. The [one who] does good is of God; the [one who] does evil vvv has not seen God.
Ἀγαπητέ μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν ὁ ἀγαθοποιῶν ἐστιν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁ κακοποιῶν οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν Θεόν Agapēte mē mimou to kakon alla to agathon ho agathopoiōn estin ek tou Theou ho kakopoiōn ouch heōraken ton Theon — NA/TR · 11
12
Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify [for him], and you know that our testimony is true.
Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων καὶ ὑπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας αὐτῆς καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν καὶ οἶδας ὅτι ἡμῶν ἡ μαρτυρία ἐστιν ἀληθής Dēmētriō memartyrētai hypo pantōn kai hypo tēs alētheias autēs kai hēmeis de martyroumen kai oidas hoti hēmōn hē martyria estin alēthēs — NA/TR · 12
Conclusion
13
I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not [to do so]… with pen and ink.
εἶχον Πολλὰ γράψαι σοι ἀλλ’ θέλω οὐ γράφειν σοι διὰ καλάμου καὶ μέλανος eichon Polla grapsai soi all’ thelō ou graphein soi dia kalamou kai melanos — NA/TR · 13
14
Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak [with you] [face] to [face]. Peace to you. The friends [ here ] send you greetings… Greet [each of our] friends [there] by name.
δὲ ἐλπίζω ἰδεῖν σε εὐθέως καὶ λαλήσομεν στόμα πρὸς στόμα Εἰρήνη σοι οἱ φίλοι Ἀσπάζονταί σε Ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατ’ ὄνομα de elpizō idein se eutheōs kai lalēsomen stoma pros stoma Eirēnē soi hoi philoi Aspazontai se Aspazou tous philous kat’ onoma — NA/TR · 14