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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)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.

Context of 3 John 1:11

9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 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. 12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and 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 23:2“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,
• Psalms 37:27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
• Proverbs 12:11Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
• Isaiah 1:16Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.
• John 10:27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
• John 12:26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
• Ephesians 5:1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
• Philippians 3:17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews
• 2 Timothy 3:10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
• Hebrews 6:12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
• 1 Peter 3:13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
• 1 Peter 3:11They must turn 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