Greetings to Gaius

1From the church leader.v1 church leader: Or “elder” or “presbyter” or “priest”.v1: Ac 19.29; Ro 16.23; 1 Co 1.14.

To my dear friend Gaius.

I love you because we follow the truth, 2dear friend, and I pray that all goes well for you. I hope that you are as strong in body, as I know you are in spirit. 3It makes me very happy when the Lord's followers come by and speak openly of how you obey the truth. 4Nothing brings me greater happiness than to hear that my childrenv4 children: Probably persons that the leader had led to be followers of the Lord. are obeying the truth.

The importance of working together

5Dear friend, you have always been faithful in helping other followers of the Lord, even the ones you didn't know before. 6They have told the church about your love. They say you were good enough to welcome them and to send them on their mission in a way that God's servants deserve. 7When they left to tell others about the Lord, they decided not to accept help from anyone who wasn't a follower. 8We must support people like them, so that we can take part in what they are doing to spread the truth.

9I wrote to the church. But Diotrephes likes to be the number-one leader, and he won't pay any attention to us. 10So if I come, I will remind him of how he has been attacking us with gossip. Not only has he been doing this, but he refuses to welcome any of the Lord's followers who come by. And when other church members want to welcome them, he puts them out of the church.

11Dear friend, don't copy the evil deeds of others! Follow the example of people who do kind deeds. They are God's children, but those who are always doing evil have never seen God.

12Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the true message that he teaches. I also speak well of him, and you know what I say is true.

Final greetings

13I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to write it with pen and ink. 14I hope to see you soon, and then we can talk in person.

15I pray that God will bless you with peace!

Your friends send their greetings. Please give a personal greeting to each of our friends.