1 From the Elder—
To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.
2 My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit. 3 I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth—just as you always live in the truth. 4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.
Gaius Is Praised
5 My dear friend, you are so faithful in the work you do for other Christians, even when they are strangers. 6 They have spoken to the church here about your love. Please help them to continue their trip in a way that will please God. 7 For they set out on their trip in the service of Christ without accepting any help from unbelievers. 8 We Christians, then, must help these people, so that we may share in their work for the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9 I wrote a short letter to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to be their leader, will not pay any attention to what I say. 10 When I come, then, I will bring up everything he has done: the terrible things he says about us and the lies he tells! But that is not enough for him; he will not receive the Christians when they come, and even stops those who want to receive them and tries to drive them out of the church!
11 My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God.
12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius; truth itself speaks well of him. And we add our testimony, and you know that what we say is true.
Final Greetings
13 I have so much to tell you, but I do not want to do it with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk personally.
15 Peace be with you.
All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.
1 Es, presbiteris, savam mīļotajam Gajam, ko es mīlu patiesībā.
2 Mīļais, es tev novēlu visās lietās tādu labklājību un veselību, kāda jau ir tavai dvēselei.
3 Jo es ļoti priecājos, kad atnāca brāļi un liecināja par tavu patiesību, ka tu dzīvo jau patiesībā.
4 Lielāka prieka man nav, kā kad dzirdu, ka mani bērni dzīvo patiesībā.
5 Mīļais, ar uzticību tu visu esi darījis brāļiem un turklāt vēl svešiniekiem,
6 Kas liecinājuši par tavu mīlestību draudzes priekšā. Tu darīsi labi, tos izvadīdams tā, kā tas ir cienīgi Dieva priekšā.
7 Jo viņa vārda labā viņi ir izgājuši, neņemdami neko no pagāniem.
8 Tad nu mums pienākas tādus uzņemt, lai mēs kļūtu patiesībai par lidzdarbiniekiem.
9 Es draudzei esmu rakstījis, bet Diotrefs, kas labprāt grib būt pirmais viņu vidū, neuzņem mūs.
10 Tāpēc, kad nākšu, es pieminēšu viņa darbus, ko viņš dara, ļauniem vārdiem aprunādams mūs, un ar to viņam nepietiek, viņš pats neuzņem brāļus un neļauj to darīt tiem, kas to grib, un izstumj tos no draudzes.
11 Mīļais, neseko ļaunajam, bet labajam. Kas dara labu, ir no Dieva; kas dara ļaunu, nav Dieva redzējis.
12 Demētrijam par labu ir liecinājuši visi, arī pati patiesība. Arī mēs dodam viņam labu liecību, un to zini, ka mūsu liecība ir patiesīga.
13 Man būtu tev daudz ko rakstīt, bet es negribu tev rakstīt ar tinti un spalvu,
14 Bet ceru it drīz tevi redzēt, tad mēs runāsim no mutes uz muti.
15 Miers lai ir ar tevi. Draugi tevi sveicina. Sveicini draugus, katru atse-višķi.
