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 a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won’t accept us. 10For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he’s doing. He’s not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers ⌞we send⌟ as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation. Dear friend, never imitate evil, but imitate good. The person who does good is from God. The person who does evil has never seen God. 12Everyone, including the truth itself, says good things about Demetrius. We also say good things about him, and you know that what we say is true. 13I have a lot to write to you. However, I would rather not write.

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 23:2Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. When you testify in court, don’t side with the majority to pervert justice.
• Psalms 37:27Avoid evil, do good, and live forever.
• Proverbs 12:11Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat, but the one who chases unrealistic dreams has no sense.
• Isaiah 1:16“Wash yourselves! Become clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil.
• John 10:27My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me,
• John 12:26Those who serve me must follow me. My servants will be with me wherever I will be. If people serve me, the Father will honor them.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16So I encourage you to imitate me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Imitate me as I imitate Christ.
• Ephesians 5:1Imitate God, since you are the children he loves.
• Philippians 3:17Brothers and sisters, imitate me, and pay attention to those who live by the example we have given you.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6You imitated us and the Lord. In spite of a lot of suffering, you welcomed God’s word with the kind of joy that the Holy Spirit gives.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14You, brothers and sisters, were like the churches of God in Judea that are united with Christ Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from the people of your own country as those churches did from the Jews
• 2 Timothy 3:10But you know all about my teachings, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.
• Hebrews 6:12Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.
• 1 Peter 3:13Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good?
• 1 Peter 3:11They must turn away from evil and do good. They must seek peace and pursue 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