THE 3RD LETTER OF
JOHN

ἸΩΆΝΝΗΣ         יוֹחָנָן

From the Elder,
to my dear friend^a Gaius^b, whom I love in truth.

Dear friend,
I pray that you may prosper in every way, just like your soul prospers, and that you may be in good health^c. Because I was very glad^d when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than these things: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Dear friend,
you do faithfully whatever you do to the brothers - especially since they’re strangers, who testified of your love in the presence of the assembly. You do well if you send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. Because they went out on a journey for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore we ought to receive such people, so that we may become coworkers in the truth.

I have written something for the assembly, but Diotrephes^e, who loves to be in charge^f among them, doesn’t accept us. Because of this, if I come, I’ll remind him of the things he’s doing, talking nonsense about us with malicious words. And as if that weren't enough, not only does he not welcome the brothers, but he also forbids those who want to and even expels them from the assembly!

Dear friend,
do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God. The one who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius^g has a good testimony among everyone, and by the truth itself. And we also testify, and you know our testimony is true.

I had many things to write to you, but I don’t want to do so with ink and paper. However I hope to see you soon, so we can talk personally.

Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.

Footnotes

a. Or “beloved”.

b. A name of Latin origin, also named Caius, it comes from the Latin word “gaudere” and means “to rejoice”.

c. Or “I pray that you may prosper in every way and that you may be in good health, just like your soul prospers.”

d. In the Latin Vulgate, the word for “to rejoice” - “gaudeo” - here used in the perfect active indicative form, “gavisus sum”, is the same root for Gaius, the addressee of John’s letter.

e. His name, Διοτρέφης, from Greek, means “Jove-nourished”. Jove is another name for Zeus.

f. Gk. φιλοπρωτεύω, philopróteuó, “to be fond of being first, i.e. ambitious of distinction”.

g. His name, Δημήτριος, also from Greek, means “devoted to Demeter”. These pagan names, Diotrephes and Demetrius, are merely incidental in regards to the narrative. It’s equal to a Christian naming their child Daphne or Marcus, even though they have pagan origins. “The presence of a second Demetrius—this one a Christian—[in contrast with Demetrius from the book of Acts] illustrates the gospel’s reach into the Hellenistic population, transforming people without erasing their cultural identity.” (BibleHub’s Lexicon)