3 John 1:11

Dear friend, do not imitate a bad example like that. Instead, keep imitating good examples. Remember that people who do good deeds ◄ truly belong to God/are spiritual children of God►, but those who do what is evil do not ◄know/have fellowship with► God.

Translation for Translators

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

10So, when I arrive there, I will publicly tell what he does: He tells others evil nonsense about us in order to harm us by what he says, and he is not content with only doing that. He himself refuses to receive the fellow believers who are traveling around doing God’s work, and he also stops those who want to receive them by expelling them from the congregation.

12All the believers who know Demetrius say that he is a good person. The fact that he conducts his life in a way that is consistent/in accordance with God’s true message shows that he is a good person, and we also say the same thing about him. You know that what we say about him is true. So it will be good if you welcome him and help him. He is the one who will be bringing this letter to you.

Read all of 3 John 1

Cross References

Psalms 34:14Turn away from doing evil, and do what is good! Always try hard to enable people to live peacefully with each other.

Proverbs 12:11Farmers who work hard in their fields will produce good crops that will give them plenty to eat, but those who waste their time working on worthless projects are foolish.

John 3:20Everyone who does what is evil hates the one who is like a light, and they will not come to the one who is like a light, because it would be shown { the one who is like a light would show} that their deeds are evil, and he would rebuke them.

John 12:26If any of these Greeks or anyone else wants to serve me, they must become my disciples. Then, after they die, they will be where I am, in heaven. My Father will honor all those who serve me.

1 Corinthians 11:1Follow my example, just like I try to follow Christ’s example.

Philippians 3:17My fellow believers, all of you should follow my example, and observe those people who act as I do, in order that you may imitate them also.

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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