1The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
13I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: 14But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
Pozdrav
1Starješina Ivan,1:1 U grčkome: samo starješina. dragomu Gaju kojega volim u Istini.
2Dragi moj, molim se da u svemu budeš dobro te da ti je tijelo zdravo kao što znam da ti je zdrava duša. 3Veoma su me obradovala neka braća koja su došla i posvjedočila mi da živiš čestito i u Istini. 4Za mene nema veće radosti nego kad čujem da moja djeca žive u Istini!
Briga za Božje djelatnike
5Dragi moj, postupaš kao pravi vjernik pomažući braći, i to došljacima. 6Oni su ovdašnjoj Crkvi pričali o tvojim djelima ljubavi. Dobro činiš opskrbljujući ih za put kako je dostojno Boga. 7Jer oni putuju radi Gospodina1:7 U grčkome: radi Imena. i ne primaju ništa od nekršćana.1:7 U grčkome: od pogana. 8Dužni smo im pružati gostoprimstvo da budemo suradnici Istine.
9O tomu sam ukratko pisao Crkvi, ali Diotref, koji želi biti vođa, ne želi s nama ništa imati. 10Kad dođem onamo, spočitnut ću mu ono što čini naklapajući o nama zlobne riječi. Ne samo da odbija prihvatiti braću koja dođu već to zabranjuje i onima koji bi ih htjeli prihvatiti i izopćuje ih iz Crkve.
11Dragi moj, ne povodi se za lošim, nego za dobrim. Tko čini dobro, od Boga je; tko čini zlo, ne poznaje Boga. 12O Demetriju svi govore samo najbolje, a i sama Istina govori njemu u prilog. I mi o njemu možemo isto reći, a znaš da mi govorimo istinu.
Zaključak
13Mnogo vam još toga imam kazati, ali ne želim o tomu pisati. 14Nadam se da ću te uskoro vidjeti, pa ćemo razgovarati licem u lice.
15Neka je Božji mir s tobom.
Pozdravljaju te prijatelji! Molim te, pozdravi mi poimence svakoga našeg prijatelja.
