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 Messiah’s community, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t welcome us. 10So if I do come, I will call attention to what he is doing—slandering us with wicked words. Not even content with that, he refuses to welcome the brethren, and even forbids those who want to do so— throwing them out of the community! Loved ones, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 12Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, even from the truth itself. We also vouch for him—and you know that our testimony is true. 13I have much to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with ink and pen.

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 a crowd to do evil. Nor are you to testify in a case, to follow a crowd and pervert justice.
• Psalms 37:27Turn from evil and do good, so you may live forever.
• Proverbs 12:11The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks sense.
• Isaiah 1:16“Wash and make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your deeds from before My eyes. Cease to do evil.
• John 10:27My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.
• John 12:26If any man serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there also will My servant be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16I urge you therefore—be imitators of me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Messiah.
• Ephesians 5:1Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children;
• Philippians 3:17Brothers and sisters, join in following my example and notice those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. (
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having accepted the message in much tribulation, with the joy of the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s communities in Messiah Yeshua that are in Judea—for you suffered the same things at the hands of your own countrymen as they did from the Judean leaders,
• 2 Timothy 3:10You, however, closely followed my teaching, manner of life, purpose, faithfulness, patience, love, perseverance—
• Hebrews 6:12so you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those inheriting the promises through trust and perseverance.
• 1 Peter 3:13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
• 1 Peter 3:11He must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek shalom 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