13GREET YOU THE CHILDREN OF THE SISTER OF YOU <THE> ELECT AMEN. 13The children of your elect sister send you greetings.*NoteCloseBYZ and TR include Amen.
1THE ELDER TO GAIUS THE BELOVED WHOM I MYSELF LOVE IN TRUTH. A Greeting from the Elder (2 John 1:1–3) 1The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:
2BELOVED, CONCERNING ALL THINGS I PRAY YOU TO DO WELL AND TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH EVEN AS DOES WELL YOUR <THE> SOUL. 2Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.
3I REJOICED FOR EXCEEDINGLY WHEN WERE COMING [THE] BROTHERS AND THOSE BEARING WITNESS FROM YOU TO THE TO TRUTH, EVEN AS YOU YOURSELF IN TRUTH ARE WALKING. 3For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
4GREATER THAN THESE THINGS NOT I HAVE JOY THAT I MAY HEAR OF <THE> MY CHILDREN IN THE TRUTH WALKING. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5BELOVED, FAITHFULLY YOU ARE DOING WHATEVER MAYBE YOU SHALL DO FOR THE BROTHERS AND FOR THAT [THING] STRANGERS, Gaius Commended for Hospitality 5Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.
6WHO TESTIFIED OF YOUR <THE> LOVE BEFORE [THE] CHURCH, WHOM WELL YOU WILL DO HAVING SET FORWARD WORTHILY <THE> OF GOD. 6They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
7ON BEHALF FOR OF THE NAME THEY WENT FORTH NOTHING ACCEPTING FROM THE GENTILE [PEOPLE]. 7For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
8WE OURSELVES THEREFORE OUGHT TO RECEIVE <THE> SUCH [MEN] SO THAT FELLOW WORKERS WE MAY BE IN THE TRUTH. 8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9I HAVE WRITTEN SOMETHING TO THE CHURCH; BUT THE [ONE] LOVING TO BE FIRST AMONG THEM DIOTREPHES NOT WELCOMES US. Diotrephes and Demetrius 9I have written to the church about this,*NoteCloseLiterally I have written something to the church but Diotrephes, who loves to be first will not accept our instruction.
10BECAUSE OF THIS, IF I SHALL COME, I WILL BRING TO REMEMBRANCE OF HIM THE WORKS WHICH HE IS DOING, WITH WORDS EVIL PRATING AGAINST US; AND NOT BEING SATISFIED WITH THESE, NEITHER HIMSELF HE RECEIVES THE BROTHERS, AND THOSE PURPOSING HE FORBIDS AND FROM THE CHURCH HE CASTS [THEM] OUT. 10So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.
11BELOVED, NOT DO IMITATE WHAT [IS] EVIL BUT WHAT [IS] GOOD. THE [ONE] DOING GOOD OF <THE> GOD IS; THE [ONE] NOW DOING EVIL NOT HAS SEEN <THE> GOD. 11Beloved, 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.
12TO DEMETRIUS WITNESS HAS BEEN GIVEN BY ALL AND BY ITSELF THE TRUTH; AND WE OURSELVES ALSO BEAR WITNESS, AND YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTIMONY OF US TRUE IS. 12Demetrius 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.
13MANY THINGS I HAD TO WRITE TO YOU, BUT NOT I DESIRE WITH INK AND PEN TO YOU TO WRITE; Conclusion (2 John 1:12–13) 13I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
14I HOPE HOWEVER SOON YOU TO SEE AND MOUTH TO MOUTH WE WILL SPEAK. 14Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face.*NoteCloseLiterally and we will speak mouth to mouth; some translators begin a new verse (15) after face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.