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 to the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10Therefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content with that, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 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. 12Demetrius hath good report by all men, and by the truth itself: and, we also bear witness; and ye know that our witness is true. 13I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee:

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

• Belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• followμιμέομαιmimeomai · to imitateG3401
• notμήmē · notG3361
• evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• goodἀγαθοποιέωagathopoieō · to do goodG15
• isἐστίesti · he isG2076
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• butδέde · thenG1161
• evilκακοποιέωkakopoieō · to do evil/harmG2554
• hathὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• notοὐou · noG3756

Cross-references for 3 John 1:11

• Exodus 23:2Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after many to pervert judgment :
• Psalms 37:27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
• Proverbs 12:11He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
• Isaiah 1:16Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil;
• John 10:27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
• John 12:26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16Therefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
• Ephesians 5:1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
• Philippians 3:17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them who walk even as ye have us for an example.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit:
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews:
• 2 Timothy 3:10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
• Hebrews 6:12That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
• 1 Peter 3:13And who is he that will harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good?
• 1 Peter 3:11Let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him 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