1 I, a ruler in the church, send word to the well loved Gaius, for whom I have true love.
2 My loved one, it is my prayer that you may do well in all things, and be healthy in body, even as your soul does well.
3 For it gave me great joy when some of the brothers came and gave witness that you had the true faith and were walking in the true way.
4 I have no greater joy than to have news that my children are walking in the true way.
5 My loved one, you are doing a good work in being kind to those brothers who come from other places;
6 Who have given witness to the church of your love for them: and you will do well to send them on their way well cared for, as is right for servants of God:
7 For they went out for love of the Name, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
8 So it is right for us to take in such men as guests, so that we may take our part in the work of the true faith.
9 I sent a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, whose desire is ever to have the first place among them, will not have us there.
10 So if I come, I will keep in mind the things he does, talking against us with evil words: and as if this was not enough, he does not take the brothers into his house, and those who are ready to take them in, he keeps from doing so, putting them out of the church if they do.
11 My loved one, do not be copying what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God: he who does evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius has the approval of all men and of what is true: and we give the same witness, and you are certain that our witness is true.
13 I had much to say to you, but it is not my purpose to put it all down with ink and pen:
14 But I am hoping to see you in a short time, and to have talk with you face to face.\
1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I desire that in all things thou shouldest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
3 For I rejoiced exceedingly when {the} brethren came and bore testimony to thy {holding fast the} truth, even as *thou* walkest in truth.
4 I have no greater joy than these things that I hear of my children walking in the truth.
5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully {in} whatever thou mayest have wrought towards the brethren and that strangers,
6 (who have witnessed of thy love before {the} assembly,) in setting forward whom on their journey worthily of God, thou wilt do well;
7 for for the name have they gone forth, taking nothing of those of the nations.
8 *We* therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow-workers with the truth.
9 I wrote something to the assembly; but Diotrephes, who loves to have the first place among them, receives us not.
10 For this reason, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he does, babbling against us with wicked words; and not content with these, neither does he himself receive the brethren; and those who would he prevents, and casts {them} out of the assembly.
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He that does good is of God. He that does evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius has witness borne to him by all, and by the truth itself; and *we* also bear witness, and thou knowest that our witness is true.
13 I had many things to write to thee, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee;
14 but I hope soon to see thee, and we will speak mouth to mouth.
15 Peace {be} to thee. The friends greet thee. Greet the friends by name.