[2] Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

[3] It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.

[4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

[5] Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.

[6] They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

[7] It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.

[8] We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

[9] I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.

[10] So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

[11] Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

[12] Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone —and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

[13] I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.

[14] I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

[2] As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

[3] For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

[4] They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.

[5] But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

[6] For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

[7] The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

[8] Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

[9] Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

[10] Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

[11] If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.