The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 71: 3 John

This brief, personal letter offers a window into the early Christian community, written by a beloved apostle to a fellow believer named Gaius. The writer opens with warm affection, praying for Gaius’s spiritual well‑being and celebrating his faithful walk in truth. He commends Gaius for his generous hospitality toward traveling teachers who come without seeking material gain. The tone is intimate, yet it carries the weight of responsibility that comes with leadership.

The core of the message turns to a troubling situation: a man named Diotrephes, who seeks personal preeminence, is refusing to receive the writer’s fellow believers. The author urges Gaius to remain steadfast in good deeds, reminding him that those who do good are aligned with God. He also offers a brief endorsement of Demetrius, whose reputation among the churches is affirmed as trustworthy. The letter closes with a hopeful promise of a face‑to‑face meeting, sealing the correspondence with a prayer for peace.