3 John 1

¹ The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.

² Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

³ For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.

⁴ I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.

⁵ Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.

⁶ They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God,

⁷ because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

⁸ We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

⁹ I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.

¹⁰ Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, he doesn’t receive the brothers himself, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.

¹¹ Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.

¹² Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.

¹³ I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;

¹⁴ but I hope to see you soon. Then we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Around 3 John 1

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

3 John 1 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

Three people stand at the center of this small letter. Gaius is the first. The elder loves him in truth, and prays that he may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as his soul prospers. Some brothers have come and told how he walks in truth. “I have no greater joy than this”, the elder says, to hear that his children are walking in truth.

Gaius has welcomed brothers who are strangers to him, and the elder asks him to send them on their way in a way worthy of God.

The second is Diotrephes, who loves to be first. He does not accept what the elder says, accuses him with wicked words, refuses to receive the brothers, and puts out those who would. The elder says he will call attention to what he does if he comes.

The third is Demetrius, who has a good testimony from everyone. Imitate good, not evil. As in the second letter, the elder would rather speak face to face. The friends greet you.

Background

This is the only one of the three letters of John addressed to a named person. The writer, again called the elder, is linked by tradition to the apostle John. Traveling workers depended on local hospitality, so who welcomed them mattered. The letter gives a small window into church life in the first century: warm friendship, and a leader who wanted control. Compare 2 John, which deals with the same kind of visitors.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 19 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes