3 John
1 1 The Presbyter to the beloved Gaius whom I love in truth.
我长老致书给可爱的加约，就是我在真理内所爱的。
2 Beloved, I hope you are prospering in every respect and are in good health, just as your soul is prospering.
亲爱的，祝你诸事顺利，并祝你健康，就如你的灵魂常顺利一样。
3 I rejoiced greatly when some of the brothers 2 came and testified to how truly you walk in the truth.
有些弟兄来，证明你在真理内，就是说你怎样在真理内生活，我很是高兴。
4 Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
我听说我的孩子们在真理内生活，我没有比这再大的喜乐了。
5 Beloved, you are faithful in all you do 3 for the brothers, especially for strangers;
亲爱的，凡你对弟兄，尤其对旅客所行的，都是真信徒的行为。
6 they have testified to your love before the church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. 4
他们在教会前证明了你的爱德。你若以相称天主的态度，帮助他们走上旅途，就是做了善事，
7 For they have set out for the sake of the Name 5 and are accepting nothing from the pagans.
因为他们出发是为主的名字，并没有从外教人接受什么；
8 Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.
所以我们应当款待这样的人，为叫我们成为与真理合作的人。
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to dominate, 6 does not acknowledge us.
我给教会写过信，但是那在他们中间爱作首领的狄约勒斐，却不承认我们。
10 Therefore, if I come, 7 I will draw attention to what he is doing, spreading evil nonsense about us. And not content with that, he will not receive the brothers, hindering those who wish to do so and expelling them from the church.
为此，我若来到，必要指摘他所行的事，就是他用恶言恶语诽谤我们的事；但这为他还不够：他自己不款待弟兄们，连那愿意款待的，他也加以阻止，甚而将他们逐出教会。
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil 8 but imitate good. Whoever does what is good is of God; whoever does what is evil has never seen God.
亲爱的，你不要效法恶，但要效法善：那行善的是出于天主，那作恶的是没有见过天主。
12 Demetrius 9 receives a good report from all, even from the truth itself. We give our testimonial as well, and you know our testimony is true.
众人和真理本身都给德默特琉作证，我们自己也给他作证，而你也知道我们所作的证是真实的。
13 I have much to write to you, but I do not wish to write with pen and ink.
我本来有许多事要写给你，但是我不愿意以笔墨给你写；
14 Instead, I hope to see you soon, when we can talk face to face.
只希望快见到你，我们好亲口面谈。
15 Peace be with you. The friends greet you; greet the friends 10 there each by name.
祝你平安！朋友都问候你。请你也一一问候各位朋友。
Footnotes(注解)
1 [1] Beloved Gaius: a frequent form of address for fellow Christians in New Testament epistolary literature.
2 [3] The brothers: in this letter, the term may refer to Christians who have been missionaries and received hospitality from Gaius (3 John 1:5-6). Walk in the truth: the common Johannine term to describe Christian living; this description presents Gaius as following the teachings of the Presbyter in contrast to Diotrephes.
3 [5] You are faithful in all you do: Gaius's aid to the missionaries is a manifestation of his true Christian faith.
4 [6] Help them . . . to continue their journey: the Presbyter asks Gaius not only to continue to welcome the missionaries to his community but also to equip them for further travels.
5 [7] The Name: of Jesus Christ (cf Acts 5:41; 1 John 2:12; 3:23; 5:13). Accepting nothing: not expecting support from the pagans to whom they preach the gospel, so that they will not be considered as beggars; they required support from other Christians; cf Paul's complaints to the Corinthians (1 Cor 9:3-12).
6 [9] Who loves to dominate: the Presbyter does not deny Diotrephes' place as leader but indicates that his ambition may have caused him to disregard his letter and his influence.
7 [10] If I come: the Presbyter may visit the community to challenge the actions of Diotrephes toward himself and the missionaries. Will not receive the brothers: Diotrephes may have been critical of the teachings of the Presbyter and sought to maintain doctrinal purity; cf 1 John 2:19 and 1:10-11.
8 [11] Do not imitate evil: Gaius should not be influenced by the behavior of Diotrephes.
9 [12] Demetrius: because of the fear of false teachers, Demetrius, perhaps the bearer of the letter, is provided with a recommendation from the Presbyter; cf 2 Cor 3:1; Romans 16:1. Even from the truth itself: this refers probably to the manner of Demetrius's life that testifies to his true belief; cf Gaius above (3 John 1:3).
10 [15] Friends: although a Johannine term for Christians (John 15:15), the word here may refer to those in the community loyal to the Presbyter and to Gaius.