| GOD'S WORD ® Translation |  |
1 From the church leader. To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love because we share the truth.
2 Dear friend, I know that you are spiritually well. I pray that you're doing well in every other way and that you're healthy. 3 I was very happy when some believers came and told us that you are living according to the truth. 4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
5 Dear friend, you are showing your faith in whatever you do for other believers, especially when they're your guests. 6 These believers have told the congregation about your love. You will do well to support them on their trip in a way that proves you belong to God. 7 After all, they went on their trip to serve the one named Christ, and they didn't accept any help from the people to whom they went. 8 We must support believers who go on trips like this so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth.
9 I wrote a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won't accept us. 10 For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he's doing. He's not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers we send as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation.
11 Dear friend, never imitate evil, but imitate good. The person who does good is from God. The person who does evil has never seen God. 12 Everyone, including the truth itself, says good things about Demetrius. We also say good things about him, and you know that what we say is true.
13 I have a lot to write to you. However, I would rather not write.
14 I hope to visit you very soon. Then we can talk things over personally. (15) Peace be with you! Your friends here send you their greetings. Greet each of our friends by name.
4 comments:
How come he does not want to write? He also mentioned that in the previous chapter.
What did Diotrphes beleive in, if he was throwing the beleivers of God out of the congregation?
After reading this chapter, it has made me think about missionaries and how I should be supporting them in some way... money, letters of encouragement, prayers. What dedication and perserverence these people have to travel the woorld and teach others about God.
ANg,
Diotrephes may or may not believe in God/Christ, I can't tell. It is obvious that, whether right or wrong, he wants to be in control. He is afraid that his motives will be obvious to others if he allows those in that will expose him.
Change
Vs 12 states that "Everyone, including the truth itself, says good things about . . ." It's interesting that TRUTH is presented as a person.
I agree, Angie, about the dedication of missionaries. Makes me think that if they are able to travel the world sharing God, I should be able to do more to spread the good of God within my own circle. Certainly prayers for those missionaries would be great, as well as prayers for all of us to be able to be "missionaries" in our communities/circles.
Comment1 I think he did not want to write because he just wanted to talk with the "face to face".
Comment 2 It helps to know that even in the early church there were people who were trying to "take charge" and do it their way and not the way that God intended it to be. The Bible tells us that there will be "wolves in sheep's clothing to try to deceive us. " The devil is a master of deception and trickery!
Comment 3 Angie and Lisa, it is convicting to know that we should be supporting missionaries and also remember our mission in our community.
In church we used to hear a lot about "the great commission" "Go into all the world preaching the gospel"
Here are some scriptures:
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Go. Mt 10:5,6 28:19 Lu 14:21-23 24:47,48 Joh 15:16 20:21 1Jo 4:14
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