3 John 1:11

3 John 1:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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 (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

Context of 3 John 1:11

9I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first, does not accept what we say and refuses to recognize my authority. 10For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, unjustly accusing us with wicked words and unjustified charges. And not satisfied with this, he refuses to receive the [missionary] brothers himself, and also forbids those who want to [welcome them] and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but [imitate] what is good. The one who practices good [exhibiting godly character, moral courage and personal integrity] is of God; the one who practices [or permits or tolerates] evil has not seen God [he has no personal experience with Him and does not know Him at all]. 12Demetrius has received a good testimony and commendation from everyone—and from the truth [the standard of God’s word] itself; and we add our testimony and speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13I had many things [to say when I began] to write to you, but I prefer not to put it down with pen (reed) and black (ink);

3 John 1:11 word by word

Ἀγαπητέ, μὴ μιμοῦ τὸ κακὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ ἀγαθόν. ὁ ἀγαθοποιῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν· ὁ κακοποιῶν οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν θεόν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• followμιμέομαιmimeomai · to imitateG3401
• notμήmē · notG3361
• that which isὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• that doeth goodἀγαθοποιέωagathopoieō · to do goodG15
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• butδέde · thenG1161
• that doeth evilκακοποιέωkakopoieō · to do evil/harmG2554
• hathὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• notοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for 3 John 1:11

• Exodus 23:2You shall not follow a crowd to do [something] evil, nor shall you testify at a trial or in a dispute so as to side with a crowd in order to pervert justice;
• Psalms 37:27Depart from evil and do good; And you will dwell [securely in the land] forever.
• Proverbs 12:11He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows worthless things lacks common sense and good judgment.
• Isaiah 1:16“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Get your evil deeds out of My sight. Stop doing evil,
• John 10:27The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.
• John 12:26If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven’s glory], there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16So I urge you, be imitators of me [just as a child imitates his father].
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
• Ephesians 5:1Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father];
• Philippians 3:17Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6You became imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord, after you welcomed our message in [a time of] great trouble with the joy supplied by the Holy Spirit;
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same [kind of] persecution from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews,
• 2 Timothy 3:10Now you have diligently followed [my example, that is] my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
• Hebrews 6:12so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in His power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] inheriting the promises.
• 1 Peter 3:13Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good?
• 1 Peter 3:11He must turn away from wickedness and do what is right. He must search for peace [with God, with self, with others] and pursue it eagerly [actively—not merely desiring it].

Commentaries on 3 John 1:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Follow not that which is evil - · Do not imitate that wicked man, i.e., the conduct of Diotrephes; be merciful, loving, and kind. For whatever profession any man may make, it will ever appear that he who doeth good is of God - he alone is the person who uses rightly the grace received from God, and he alone shall enjoy the Divine approbation; While he that doeth evil - He who is unfeeling, unmerciful, unkind, hath not seen God - has no proper knowledge of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good - There can be no doubt that in this exhortation the writer had Diotrephes particularly in his eye, and that he means to exhort Gaius not to imitate his example. He was a man of influence in the church, and though Gaius had shown that he was disposed to act in an independent manner, yet it was not improper to exhort him not to be influenced by the example of any one who did wrong. John wished…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11the one who does evil: John condemns Diotrephes for not living by the Christian rule of love (1 John 3:10–14). This was how Gaius could be sure that Diotrephes was not living according to the truth. This applies to all who refuse to accept the apostolic teaching about Jesus Christ and refuse to live in fellowship with others who do.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. follow not that which is evil--as manifested in Diotrephes (3Jo 9, 10). but ... good--as manifested in Demetrius (3Jo 12). is of God--is born of God, who is good. hath not seen God--spiritually, not literally.Read the comment

Topics related to 3 John 1:11

• Blindness
• Commandments
• Example
• Holiness
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Follow

Commentaries on 3 John 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings