Study Desk

We have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us. God is love, and the person who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.1 John 3:24;">[xr]

There is no fear where love exists.in love">[fn] Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love.1 John 4:12;">[xr]

For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not difficult,Micah 6:8; Matthew 11:30; John 14:15,21, 23; 15:10; 2 John 1:1:6;">[xr]

For there are three witnesseswitnesses in heaven—the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.">[fn]">[fn]John 1:1; 10:30; Revelation 19:13—;">[xr]

And this is the confidence that we have in him: if we ask for anything according to his will, he listens to us.1 John 3:22;">[xr]

And if we know that he listens to our requests, we can be sure that we have what we ask him for.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world. They refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. Any such person is a deceiver and an antichrist.1 John 2:22; 4:1-3;">[xr]

See to it that you don't destroy what we haveyou have">[fn] worked for, but that you receive your full reward.Mark 13:9; Galatians 3:4; Hebrews 10:32,35;">[xr]

for the one who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

For I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth.[xr]

Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers.

After all, they went on their trip for the sake of Christ's[fn] name, accepting no support from the Gentiles.[xr]

For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to accept the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church.

span data-lang="eng" data-trans="isv" data-ref="3jo.1.1" class="versetxt"> From[fn] the elder to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in truth.[xr] Dear friend, I pray that you are doing well in every way and that you are healthy, just as your soul is healthy. For I was overjoyed when some brothers arrived and testified about your truthfulness and how you live according to the truth.[xr] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.[xr] Dear friend, you are faithful in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. They have testified before the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. After all, they went on their trip for the sake of Christ's[fn] name, accepting no support from the Gentiles.[xr] Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can become their helpers in spreading[fn] the truth. I wrote a letter[fn] to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, will not accept us. For this reason, when I come I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with that, he refuses to accept the brothers. He even tries to stop those who want to accept them and throws them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The person who does what is good is from God. The person who does what is evil has never seen God.[xr] Demetrius has received a good report from everyone, including the truth itself. We, too, can testify to this, and you know that our testimony is true.[xr] Although I have a great deal to write to you, I would rather not write with pen and ink.[xr] Instead, I hope to see you soon and talk face to face. May peace be with you! Your friends greet you. Greet each of our friends by name.

Dear friends, although I was eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write to you and urge you to continue your vigorous defense of the faith that was passed down to the saints once and for all.[xr]

For some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. They were written about long ago as being deserving of this condemnation because they are ungodly. They turn the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.[xr]

He has also held in eternal chains those angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their assigned place. They are held in deepest darkness for judgment on the great day.[fn][xr]

How terrible it will be for them! For they followed the path of Cain, rushed headlong into Balaam's error to make a profit, and destroyed themselves in Korah's rebellion.[xr]

These people are stains on your love feasts.[fn] They feast with you without any sense of awe.[fn] They are shepherds who care only for themselves. They are waterless clouds blown about by the winds. They are autumn trees that are fruitless, twice dead, and uprooted.[xr]

They are wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their own shame. They are wandering stars for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.[xr]