Study Desk

So if I come, I will show what he is doing by the bad things he is saying about us. Not only that, he will not take the Christian brothers into his home. He keeps others from doing it also. When they do, he puts them out of the church.

The church leader writes to the much-loved Gaius. I love you because of the truth. Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way. I pray that your body is strong and well even as your soul is. I was very happy when some Christians came and told me about how you are following the truth. I can have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. Dear friend, you are doing a good work by being kind to the Christians, and for sure, to the strangers. They have told the church about your love. It will be good for you to help them on their way as God would have you. These people are working for the Lord. They are taking nothing from the people who do not know God. So we should help such people. That way we will be working with them as they teach the truth. I wrote a letter to the church. But Diotrephes wants to be the leader and put himself first. He will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will show what he is doing by the bad things he is saying about us. Not only that, he will not take the Christian brothers into his home. He keeps others from doing it also. When they do, he puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not follow what is sinful, but follow what is good. The person who does what is good belongs to God. The person who does what is sinful has not seen God. Everyone speaks good things about Demetrius. The truth itself speaks for him. We say the same thing also and you know we are speaking the truth. I have much to write about but I do not want to write it in this letter. I hope to see you soon and then we can talk together. May you have peace. The friends here greet you. Greet each friend there by name.

Some sinful men have come into your church without anyone knowing it. They are living in sin and they speak of the loving-favor of God to cover up their sins. They have turned against our only Leader and Lord, Jesus Christ. Long ago it was written that these people would die in their sins.

"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Ephesus: ‘The One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand and the One Who walks among the seven lights made of gold, says this:

"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Smyrna: ‘The One Who is First and Last, the One Who died and came to life again, says this:

"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Pergamum: ‘The One Who has the sharp sword that cuts both ways, says this:

"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Thyatira: ‘The Son of God Who has eyes like fire and Whose feet are like shining brass, says this:

"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Sardis: ‘The One Who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: I know what you are doing. I know people think you are alive, but you are dead.

But there are a few people in the church in the city of Sardis whose clothes are not dirty with sins. They will walk with Me wearing white clothes. They have done what they should.

"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Philadelphia: ‘He Who is holy and true, Who holds the key of David, Who opens and no man can shut, Who shuts and no man can open, says this:

"Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Laodicea: ‘The One Who says, Let it be so, the One Who is faithful, the One Who tells what is true, the One Who made everything in God's world, says this: