The Good Report concerning Demetrius

11 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.

Other Translations of 3 John 1:11

King James Version

The Good Report concerning Demetrius

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 hath not seen God.

English Standard Version

The Good Report concerning Demetrius

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

The Message

The Good Report concerning Demetrius

11 Friend, don't go along with evil. Model the good. The person who does good does God's work. The person who does evil falsifies God, doesn't know the first thing about God.

New King James Version

The Good Report concerning Demetrius

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but NU-Text and M-Text omit but. he who does evil has not seen God.

New Living Translation

The Good Report concerning Demetrius

11 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.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 3 John 1:11

Commentary on 3 John 1:9-12

(Read 3 John 1:9-12)

Both the heart and mouth must be watched. The temper and spirit of Diotrephes was full of pride and ambition. It is bad not to do good ourselves; but it is worse to hinder those who would do good. Those cautions and counsels are most likely to be accepted, which are seasoned with love. Follow that which is good, for he that doeth good, as delighting therein, is born of God. Evil-workers vainly pretend or boast acquaintance with God. Let us not follow that which is proud, selfish, and of bad design, though the example may be given by persons of rank and power; but let us be followers of God, and walk in love, after the example of our Lord.