1. I, the elder, to my dear friend Gaius, whom I love sincerely.

2. Dear friend, may everything go well with you and may you enjoy health of body and soul.

3. I greatly rejoiced with the friends who arrived and praised your truth, and how you live the truth.

4. Nothing gives me greater joy than to know that my children live in the truth.

5. Beloved, you do well to care for the brothers and sisters as you do. I mean those coming from other places.

6. They spoke of your charity before the assembled Church. It will be well to provide them with what they need to continue their journey, as if you did it for God.

7. In reality, they have set out on the road for his name without accepting anything from the pagans.

8. We should receive such persons, making ourselves their cooperators in the work of the truth.

9. I have written these words to the Church. But Diotrephes, who is anxious to preside over it, does not acknowledge our authority.

10. So when I come, I will not cease reproaching his manner of acting, since he discredited us with words of evil intent. And not content with that, he does not receive the friends and even restrains those who want to receive them, and expels them from the Church.

11. Dear friend, do not imitate evil, but only the good. Whoever does good is of God. Whoever does evil does not know God.

12. Now about Demetrius: everyone praises him, even the truth itself. We, too, praise him, and you know that when we recommend anyone, we do it according to the truth.

13. I have many things to tell you, but I do not want to do it in writing.

14. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be with you. Your friends greet you. Greet the friends for me, each one by name.





“O amor é a rainha das virtudes. Como as pérolas se ligam por um fio, assim as virtudes, pelo amor. Fogem as pérolas quando se rompe o fio. Assim também as virtudes se desfazem afastando-se o amor”. São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina