3 Yohan (John)

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Note: This Readers' Version is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn't necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. (It's designed to be used alongside the Literal Version which gives the English reader a window into what's actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you're wanting to read and understand the Literal Version.) Between the two versions you should be able to easily read the clear message of the text, while at the same time being able to check for yourself if that's a fair translation of what the original authors had inked onto their ancient manuscripts.)

Note that greyed words are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we have tried to be as honest / transparent as possible.

Introduction

The author

This the third letter we have that was written by Yohan, one of the twelve apprentices who spent the most time with Yeshua.

This letter

This letter was sent to one of Yohan’s friends named Gaius. Yohan praises Gaius for the way he’d looked after other believers and for his living out God’s truth. Yohan also warns Gaius about a person named Diotrephes who was opposing the believers.

Main components of Yohan’s letter

Greetings 1-4

Praising Gaius 5-8

Scolding Diotrephes 9-10

Boasting about Demetrius 11-12

The closing 13-15

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

It is our prayer that this Readers' Version of the Open English Translation of the Bible will give you a clear understanding of the accounts and messages written by the God-inspired Biblical writers.

Salutation

Greetings

Trouble in the church

1 [ref]This letter is from Yohan the elder to my dear friend Gaius who I love because we both follow the truth.

Gaius Commended for His Hospitality

2 My dear friend, I trust that you are healthy and doing well in everything just as you are also doing well spiritually. 3 I was very happy when some of our spiritual brothers came and told us about your faithfulness to the truth and how you are living it out. 4 Nothing makes me more happy than hearing that other believers that I’ve helped are living out the truth.

1:5 Praising Gaius

Caring for the Lord’s Workers

Gaius Is Praised

5 My dear friend, you are faithful in what you do for other believers. Even strangers 6 have told the assembly about your caring for them before sending them on. Your actions will be praised by God 7 because they went out to serve God, not getting any help from the unbelievers. 8 We should be supporting believers like them so that we may also become their workmates in sharing the truth.

1:9 Diotrephes and Demetrius

9 I wrote something to the assembly, but Diotrephes won’t listen to us—he always wants the limelight for himself. 10 Because of that, if I do end up coming, I will be reminding him about what he’s been doing—rambling on against us with evil talks, and then, not being happy with that, he doesn’t accept other believers and expels them from the assembly then forbids others from accepting them either.

11 My dear friend, don’t copy the evil things that others do, just the good things. Anyone who does what is good belongs to God—anyone who does evil things has not seen God.

12 Demetrius has been talked about by everyone and even the truth itself speaks. We have also spoken about him, and you know that what we say is true.

1:13 Closing

Final Greetings

Conclusion

13 I had many things I wanted to write about, but won’t do it by means of ink and pen, 14 but instead I hope to see you soon and then we can speak face to face.

15 Wishing all peace and happiness for you. Your friends here also greet you. Please greet our friends there by name.