Focus: Verse 11
King James Bible
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.
New International Version
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
New Living Translation
Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.
Study Notes
John sounds tired. Not the kind of tired that comes from a lack of sleep, but the kind that comes from knowing the work will never be done, the trials will never end, and no matter how hard you try to see the good in people, they always seem to find a way to disappoint you.
It reminds me of how I felt meeting a fellow addict who promised to be a worthy friend—no matter how confident I tried to be, I always knew it was only a matter of days or weeks before they proved me wrong. No matter how optimistic a man tries to be, there are days when the juice doesn't seem worth the squeeze. I think John was having one of those days.
John's optimism shines in verse 11, though. I think what he is saying here is that the evil man is only evil because he has NOT YET seen God. John still hopes the evil will see the light—because if he had let go of that hope, he would have collapsed under the weight of reality. I know the feeling.
--BSB
Commendations and Warnings
1 The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:
2 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.
3 For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.
6 They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
7 For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9 I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
10 So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
14 Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.
Version Study & Takeaway
Lexical Breakdown:
- ἐστιν (estin) — Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular: is, exists.
- ἐκ (ek) — Preposition: out of, from within, denoting direct origin or source.
- Θεοῦ (Theou) — Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular: of God.
While modern translations frequently render this phrase as "God's children," other translations preserve the sheer weight of John's language. Being my father's son never meant I patterned my life after his wisdom—and attempting to do so contributed to decades of hiding behind the veil of addiction.
Given the exhaustion John was enduring, the core of his message is clear: genuinely internalizing these truths renders maintaining an evil disposition impossible. It reinforces a necessary conviction: anyone truly walking in the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ is compelled, out of genuine love for Him, to live in a manner that honors that love.
The Takeaway: A man's moral health is measured by his daily patterns of behavior. Escaping into substances and running with those doing the same spoke plainly to my character. Yet it is never too late to change. These shifts in my life are the direct result of allowing God's lessons to actively govern my conduct.