A Greeting from the Elder (2 John 1:1–3)
1 UST { From John} the Church Leader. To Gaius, my dear friend, whom I truly love. BSB BSB: The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:
2 UST Dear friend, I am asking God to make everything go well for you and to keep you healthy physically, just as you are healthy in respect to God. BSB BSB: Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.
3 UST I know that you are healthy in respect to God because some fellow believers came here and told me about your truthful way of living. They said that you live according to the true message about Jesus. That makes me very happy. BSB BSB: For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
4 UST This is what makes me the very happiest— when someone tells me that the people whom I have helped to follow Jesus are living according to the true message from God! BSB BSB: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Gaius Commended for Hospitality 5 UST Dear friend, you are serving Jesus loyally whenever you do things to help fellow believers, even those whom you do not know. BSB BSB: Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.
6 UST Some of them have reported before the congregation{ here} how you have shown that you love them. Such people are traveling in order to be obedient to Jesus and they have decided to allow only fellow believers to help them as they travel. Therefore it is good that you give such people what they need for traveling in a{ generous} way that honors God. BSB BSB: They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
8 UST In fact, all of us{ who believe in Jesus} should give these people whatever they need. Then it will be as though we are working alongside them as they help others to know God’ s true message. BSB BSB: Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius 9 UST I wrote a letter to your group of believers to tell them to help those other believers. However, Diotrephes, who wants to dominate your group, refuses to do this. BSB BSB: I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
10 UST So when I arrive there I will publicly tell everyone what he does: He says bad things about us that are not true. In addition to doing that, he also refuses to welcome the believers{ who are traveling in order to do God’ s work}. He even prevents those who do want to welcome them and forces them to leave the group of believers! BSB BSB: So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.
11 UST Dear friend, do not copy a bad example{ like that}. Instead, do the good things that you see good people doing.{ Remember that} people who do good deeds truly belong to God. But anyone who keeps doing what is bad does not know God. BSB BSB: Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
12 UST People widely praise Demetrius as a good person. The way that he lives according to God’ s true message also makes it clear that he is a good person. We also confirm that he is a good person, and you know that what we say is true. BSB BSB: Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
Conclusion (2 John 1:12–13)
13 UST There are many{ more} things about which I could write to you. But I do not want to write to you{ about them} in a letter. BSB BSB: I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
14 UST Instead, I hope to come and see you soon. Then we will talk directly with one another. I pray that God will help you live peacefully. The believers{ here} greet you. Please greet for us{ each of} the believers{ there} individually. BSB BSB: Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.