--- title: "3 John: Full Text – Catholic Bible (CPDV) · Bless" url: https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/ description: "The Third Letter of John, a brief letter in one chapter. The full text free in the CPDV, with Bp. Challoner’s notes." --- New Testament # The Third Letter of John The Third Letter of John is the twenty-fifth of the 27 books of the New Testament: a single chapter of 14 verses. About 3 John · Brief letter Third John is the shortest book of the Bible: a personal note from the elder to his friend Gaius, thanking him for supporting traveling missionaries, and contrasting him with Diotrephes, a local leader who loved the first place and shut the door on the brethren. It was written to keep hospitality — the practical infrastructure of the early mission — alive against one man's ambition. In a few lines it preserves a permanent portrait of good and bad authority in the Church. [Challoner’s notes 3](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#notes) ## 3 John, Catholic Public Domain Version 3 John No Latin for this chapter: the Vulgate edition Bless uses numbers its verses differently here. 1. The Elder, to Gaius, most beloved, whom I love in the truth. 2. [2](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v2) Most beloved, concerning everything, I make it my prayer that you may benefit by advancing and succeeding in whatever may be to the benefit of your soul. 3. [3](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v3) I was very glad when the brothers arrived, and when they offered testimony to the truth in you, that you are walking in the truth. 4. [4](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v4) I have no greater grace than this, when I hear that my sons are walking in the truth.[†](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#n4) 5. [5](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v5) Most beloved, you should act faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers, and those who are sojourners; 6. [6](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v6) they have given testimony to your charity in the sight of the Church. You would do well to lead these ones worthily to God. 7. [7](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v7) For they set out, on behalf of his name, accepting nothing from the unbelievers.[†](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#n7) 8. [8](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v8) Therefore, we must accept such as these, in order that we may cooperate with the truth. 9. [9](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v9) As it happens, I had written to the church. But Diotrephes, who loves to bear the highest rank among them, would not accept us.[†](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#n9) 10. [10](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v10) Because of this, when I come, I will admonish his works which he does, babbling against us with malicious words. And as if this were not sufficient for him, he himself does not receive the brothers. And those who do receive them, he hinders, and he ejects them from the church. 11. [11](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v11) Most beloved, do not be willing to imitate what is evil; instead imitate what is good. Whoever does good is of God. Whoever does evil has not seen God. 12. [12](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v12) Testimony is being given for Demetrius by everyone, and by the truth itself. And we also offer testimony. And you know that our testimony is true. 13. [13](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v13) I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing, through ink and pen, to write to you. 14. [14](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v14) Yet I hope to see you soon, and then we will speak face to face. Peace to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. [Catholic Public Domain Version](https://blessbible.app/translations/cpdv/) (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain ## About this book Bishop Challoner wrote no summary for this chapter. ## Bishop Challoner’s notes Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750). They comment on its older English wording, which can differ from the CPDV above; the verse numbers are matched to the CPDV. 1. Verse [4](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v4) *“No greater grace” …* that is nothing that gives me greater joy and satisfaction. 2. Verse [7](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v7) These ministers of the gospel are commended by St. John, who took nothing from the Gentiles, lest they should seem to preach in order to get money by it. 3. Verse [9](https://blessbible.app/bible/3-john/#v9) This man seemeth to be in power, but not a friend to the faithful; therefore this part of the letter might be an admonition to him from the apostle. ## About 3 John *3 John in Bless* | | | |---|---| | Testament | New Testament — book 25 of 27, 71 of 73 in the Bible | | Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) | | Chapters | 1 | | Verses | 14, as Bless numbers them | | Latin | None (the Vulgate edition Bless uses numbers this book differently) | | Bp. Challoner | No chapter summary · 3 notes | | Catechism | No references | Spotted a mistake in the text, a note or a date? [Report an error](https://blessbible.app/support/#report) and we’ll fix it in the app and here. [Previous book The Second Letter of John](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-john/) [Next book The Letter of Jude](https://blessbible.app/bible/jude/)