Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 1

Greeting

The Elder:^[a]

To the elect^(a) lady^[b] and her children: I love all of you in the truth—and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth^(b)— ² because of the truth that remains in us^(c) and will be with us forever.

³ Grace, mercy, and peace^(d) will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son^(e) of the Father, in truth and love.^(f)

Truth and Deception

⁴ I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth,^(g) in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. ⁵ So now I urge you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.^{(h) 6} And this is love:⁽ⁱ⁾ that we walk according to His commands.^(j) This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.^[c]

⁷ Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.^[d](k) This is the deceiver and the antichrist.^{(l) 8} Watch yourselves so you don't lose what we^[e] have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.^{(m) 9} Anyone who does not remain in Christ's teaching⁽ⁿ⁾ but goes beyond it, does not have God.^(o) The one who remains^(p) in that teaching, this one has both the Father^(q) and the Son.^{(r) 10} If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive^(s) him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him; ¹¹ for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares^(t) in his evil works.^(u)

Farewell

¹² Though I have many things to write to you,^(v) I don't want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face^[f] so that our joy^(w) may be complete.

¹³ The children of your elect sister send you greetings.

Chapter 1

Greeting

The Elder:^(a)

To my dear friend^[a] Gaius: I love you in the truth.^(b)

² Dear friend,^[b] I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically^(c) just as you are spiritually.^{[c] 3} For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified^(d) to your faithfulness to the truth—how you are walking in the truth.^{(e) 4} I have no greater joy^(f) than this: to hear that my children^(g) are walking in the truth.

Gaius Commended

⁵ Dear friend,^[d] you are showing faithfulness^[e] by whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. ⁶ They have testified to your love in front of the church.^(h) You will do well to send them on their journey⁽ⁱ⁾ in a manner worthy of God,^{(j) 7} since they set out for the sake of the Name,^(k) accepting nothing from pagans.^{(l) 8} Therefore, we ought to support such men so that we can be coworkers with^[f] the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

⁹ I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them,^(m) does not receive us.^{(n) 10} This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering^(o) us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.

¹¹ Dear friend,^[g] do not imitate what is evil,^(p) but what is good. The one who does good is of God;^(q) the one who does evil has not seen God.^{(r) 12} Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know^(s) that our testimony is true.^(t)

Farewell

¹³ I have many things to write you, but I don't want to write to you with pen and ink. ¹⁴ I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.^[h]

Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.

Greetings from Jude

¹⁵ Greeting The Elder:^(a) To my dear friend^[a] Gaius: I love you in the truth.^(b) Dear friend,^[b] I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically^(c) just as you are spiritually.^[c] For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified^(d) to your faithfulness to the truth—how you are walking in the truth.^(e) I have no greater joy^(f) than this: to hear that my children^(g) are walking in the truth. Dear friend,^[d] you are showing faithfulness^[e] by whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. They have testified to your love in front of the church.^(h) You will do well to send them on their journey⁽ⁱ⁾ in a manner worthy of God,^(j) since they set out for the sake of the Name,^(k) accepting nothing from pagans.^(l) Therefore, we ought to support such men so that we can be coworkers with^[f] the truth. I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them,^(m) does not receive us.⁽ⁿ⁾ This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering^(o) us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church. Dear friend,^[g] do not imitate what is evil,^(p) but what is good. The one who does good is of God;^(q) the one who does evil has not seen God.^(r) Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know^(s) that our testimony is true.^(t) I have many things to write you, but I don't want to write to you with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.^[h] Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.