3 John 1:11

My friend, whenever you see people doing bad things like that, don’t copy them. But whenever you see people doing good things, you have to copy them. If somebody does good things, that shows that they belong to God. But if somebody does bad things, that shows that they don’t properly know God.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

In Context

10I will visit soon, and I will talk to everyone about the bad things that Diotrefees is doing. He is making up lies against us, and he is rubbishing us. And that’s not all. Diotrefees does other bad things too. Whenever Christians come to tell people about Jesus, Diotrefees doesn’t let them come to church or stay at his house. And if somebody else in the church says, “I want to help those Christians,” then Diotrefees says, “No, don’t help them.” And he tells that person that they are not allowed to come to church any more.

12Now I want to talk to you about Demetrius. Everyone says that he is a good man. Look at the way he lives. He takes notice of God’s true message, and he lives God’s way. We also say that Demetrius is a good man, and you know that we don’t lie to you.

Read all of 3 John 1

Cross References

Psalms 34:14Turn away from doing bad things, and do good things. Don’t fight with people or make trouble. Try very hard to live happily with other people.

John 3:20If anyone does bad things, they hate the light. They will not come into the light. They know that if they come into the light, then everyone will see the bad things they are doing.

John 12:26If anyone wants to work for me, they have to follow me. Wherever I go, my workers will go. And if anyone works for me, my father will say they are good.

1 Corinthians 11:1So you have to try to live the way I live, and do the same sorts of things that I do, just like I try to live the way that Jesus Christ lived.

Philippians 3:17My Christian friends, you know how I live, so you all have to try to live the same way. And look around at each other, and see the way you all live. Look at those people that live the same way as I live, and you do the same.

Matthew Henry on 3 John 1:10-12

The Character of Diotrephes. ( a. d. 90.) 9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil… Read the whole commentary →

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