Encouragement to the Fellow Workers in the Truth
I. Introduction
A. Loving in Truthfulness
A. Given Faithfully, in Love, and in a Manner Worthy of God
A. The Self-exalting and Domineering Diotrephes — An Evil Pattern
A. The Hope for Closer Fellowship
I. Introduction
A. Loving in Truthfulness
- The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truthfulness.
- Beloved, concerning all things I wish that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
- For I rejoiced greatly at the brothers’ coming and testifying to your steadfastness in the truth, even as you walk in truth.
- I have no greater joy than these things, that I hear that my children are walking in the truth.
A. Given Faithfully, in Love, and in a Manner Worthy of God
- Beloved, you do faithfully in whatever you have wrought for the brothers, and this for strangers,
- Who testified to your love before the church; whom you will do well to send forward in a manner worthy of God;
- For on behalf of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
- We therefore ought to support such ones that we may become fellow workers in the truth.
A. The Self-exalting and Domineering Diotrephes — An Evil Pattern
- I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not receive us.
- For this reason, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he does, babbling against us with evil words; and not being satisfied with these, neither does he himself receive the brothers, and those intending to do so he forbids and casts out of the church.
- Beloved, do not imitate the evil, but the good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God.
- To Demetrius testimony has been borne by all and by the truth itself; and we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
A. The Hope for Closer Fellowship
- I had many things to write to you, but I do not want to write to you with ink and pen;
- But I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. Peace to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.