[This is being written by] the elder to my dear [friend] Gaius, whom I love in the truth. [Note: This may mean "whom I truly love"].

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

For it was a great joy to me, when some Brothers came and testified to your fidelity to the Truth--I know that your own life is guided by the Truth.

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from time to time that the lives of my Children are guided by the Truth.

Dear friend, you are showing faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers.

These people testify about your love [for them] before the [assembled] church. You will be doing a good thing to send them on their journey in a way that is pleasing to God [i.e., by furnishing them with travel expenses for their ministry].

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who wants to be first [among] them, does not acknowledge us.

Beloved, be not thou following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, of God he is, and he who is doing evil hath not seen God;

Demetrius has witness borne to him by all, and by the truth itself; and we also bear witness, and thou knowest that our witness is true.

I have many things to write to you, but I do not want to write to you by means of ink and pen.

But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Peace be to you. The friends [here] greet you. Greet the friends [personally] by name.