3 John 10-12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
10 Therefore, if I come,[a] I will draw attention to what he is doing, spreading evil nonsense about us. And not content with that, he will not receive the brothers, hindering those who wish to do so and expelling them from the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil[b] but imitate good. Whoever does what is good is of God; whoever does what is evil has never seen God.(A) 12 Demetrius[c] receives a good report from all, even from the truth itself. We give our testimonial as well, and you know our testimony is true.(B)
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- 10 If I come: the Presbyter may visit the community to challenge the actions of Diotrephes toward himself and the missionaries. Will not receive the brothers: Diotrephes may have been critical of the teachings of the Presbyter and sought to maintain doctrinal purity; cf. 1 Jn 2:19 and 2 Jn 10–11.
- 11 Do not imitate evil: Gaius should not be influenced by the behavior of Diotrephes.
- 12 Demetrius: because of the fear of false teachers, Demetrius, perhaps the bearer of the letter, is provided with a recommendation from the Presbyter; cf. 2 Cor 3:1; Rom 16:1. Even from the truth itself: this refers probably to the manner of Demetrius’s life that testifies to his true belief; cf. Gaius above (3 Jn 3).
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