King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 2 notes
1The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
7Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
The early disciples did not want it to be seen that they sought for money 💵, so they preached the gospel for free, or rather at the expense of the established brethren.
They did nothing to hinder the gospel.
8We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
Looks like Gaius was a believer who maybe lived near the church.
And the situation was such that the ministers who came to his church from the Gentile church took no offering or any such thing to preach the word of God.
So Gaius takes them into his house and feeds them, and when they are ready to journey back or on to some other place, gives them some provisions for their journey.
He was a good man, and such charity is expensive to maintain, but he did all that for the Lord.
9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
13I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
14But 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.