2 Beloved, I earnestly pray, that thou mayst prosper and be in health, as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I greatly rejoiced, when the brethren came, and bore testimony to thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.
4 And I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.
5 Beloved, thou actest faithfully in whatsoever service thou dost to the brethren, and to strangers too;
6 who have borne witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well in forwarding, as is worthy of God.
7 For they went forth for his name's sake, taking nothing of the gentiles.
8 We ought therefore to receive such, that we may become fellow-laborers in the truth.
9 I wrote to the church: but Diotrephes, who affects the pre-eminence among them, doth not receive us.
10 Therefore when I come, I will remember his deeds, prating against us with wicked words: and not content with these, he neither receiveth the brethren himself, nor suffers those that would; and casteth them out of the church.
11 Beloved, do not thou follow that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doth good is of God: but he, that doth evil, hath not seen God.
12 A good testimony is borne to Demetrius by all men, and by the truth itself: yea, and we also bear him like witness, and ye know that our testimony is true.
13 I had many things to write: but I would not write to thee with pen and ink;
14 for I hope to see thee soon, and we shall speak mouth to mouth. (15) Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.