A Diagramming of 3 John
1
The Elder, to Gaius, my DEAR FRIEND,
whom I truly love.
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2
DEAR FRIEND,
I pray that in every way things may GO WELL WITH YOU
and
that you may be healthy
- just as I have heard that things are
GOING WELL WITH YOUR SOUL.
[WHY THIS PRAYER:]
3 For
it filled me
with great JOY
when Christian brothers
came,
and
told me about
the TRUTH that is in you -
the TRUTH in which you continue to LIVE.
[ABOUT THIS JOY:]
4
I have no greater JOY than to hear
that my spiritual children
continue to LIVE
in the TRUTH.
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5
DEAR FRIEND,
you have been faithful
in what you have done for the Christian brothers,
even though they are strangers to you.
6
- They have told the church about your love.
You will do well to send them
on their way,
in a manner worthy of God.
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7
It was for his name's sake that they went
out,
receiving no financial help
from those who do not know God.
8
We, therefore, ought to help
them,
so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
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9
I wrote to the church,
but
Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first,
will not pay attention to what we say.
10
So
if I visit,
I will point out what he is doing,
spreading false rumors about us.
Not satisfied with that,
he not only refuses to welcome
the
Christian brothers,
but
also tries to stop others from doing so,
expelling them out of the church.
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11
DEAR FRIEND,
do not imitate what is evil,
but
[do imitate] what is good.
He who does what is good is from God;
he who does what is evil has not seen God.
12
Everyone speaks well of Demetrius;
the truth itself speaks well of him.
We also speak well of him,
and
you know that our testimony is true.
----------
13
I have many things to say to you,
but
am unwilling to do so with pen and ink.
14
I hope to see you soon,
and
then we will talk face to face.
Peace to you.
The friends here greet you.
Greet the friends there by name.
Dennis Hinks © 1996 (my translation)
050305