Alkukirkko
The Elder's Greeting to Gaius and Warning Against Diotrephes
The Elder (traditionally understood as John) sends a warm greeting to the beloved Gaius, commends his faithfulness and hospitality toward traveling brothers who have gone out for the sake of the Name, and encourages him to continue supporting them. He warns against Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, refuses to welcome them, speaks evil about them, and expels from the church those who wish to receive the brothers. The letter gives a good testimony about Demetrius and concludes with personal greetings.
3. Johanneksen kirje 1,1-15
1The elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Ὁ πρεσβύτερος Γαΐῳ τῷ ἀγαπητῷ, ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ.
2Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
Ἀγαπητέ, περὶ πάντων εὔχομαί σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν, καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή.
3It gave me great joy when brothers came and testified about your truthfulness—how you walk in the truth.
ἐχάρην γὰρ λίαν ἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν καὶ μαρτυρούντων σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, καθὼς σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς.
4I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
μειζοτέραν τούτων οὐκ ἔχω ⸀χαράν, ἵνα ἀκούω τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα ἐν ⸀τῇ ἀληθείᾳ περιπατοῦντα.
5Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers, and strangers at that.
Ἀγαπητέ, πιστὸν ποιεῖς ὃ ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ ⸀τοῦτο ξένους,
6They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God,
οἳ ἐμαρτύρησάν σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐνώπιον ἐκκλησίας, οὓς καλῶς ποιήσεις προπέμψας ἀξίως τοῦ θεοῦ·
7for they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ⸀ἐθνικῶν.
8So we ought to support such people, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.
ἡμεῖς οὖν ὀφείλομεν ⸀ὑπολαμβάνειν τοὺς τοιούτους, ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ.
9I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, will not welcome us.
Ἔγραψά ⸀τι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ· ἀλλʼ ὁ φιλοπρωτεύων αὐτῶν Διοτρέφης οὐκ ἐπιδέχεται ἡμᾶς.
10So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing: spreading malicious nonsense about us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers himself, and he stops those who want to welcome them, and throws them out of the church.
διὰ τοῦτο, ἐὰν ἔλθω, ὑπομνήσω αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιεῖ, λόγοις πονηροῖς φλυαρῶν ἡμᾶς, καὶ μὴ ἀρκούμενος ἐπὶ τούτοις οὔτε αὐτὸς ἐπιδέχεται τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοὺς βουλομένους κωλύει καὶ ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐκβάλλει.
11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
Ἀγαπητέ, μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν. ὁ ἀγαθοποιῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν· ὁ κακοποιῶν οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν θεόν.
12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and by the truth itself. We add our testimony as well, and you know that our testimony is true.
Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ πάντων καὶ ὑπὸ αὐτῆς τῆς ἀληθείας· καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ μαρτυροῦμεν, καὶ ⸀οἶδας ὅτι ἡ μαρτυρία ἡμῶν ἀληθής ἐστιν.
13I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.
Πολλὰ εἶχον ⸂γράψαι σοι⸃, ἀλλʼ οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι ⸀γράφειν·
14I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
ἐλπίζω δὲ εὐθέως ⸂σε ἰδεῖν⸃, καὶ στόμα πρὸς στόμα λαλήσομεν.
15Peace to you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there, each by name.
Εἰρήνη σοι. ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ φίλοι. ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατʼ ὄνομα.