3 John 1:5

Dear friend, ¹  you demonstrate faithfulness ²  by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers).

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.

Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers;

Dear friend, you are doing a good work for God when you take care of the traveling teachers who are passing through, even though they are strangers to you.

Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible.

My loved one, you are doing a good work in being kind to those brothers who come from other places;

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you;

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,

Dear friend, ¹  you demonstrate faithfulness ²  by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers).

¹ tn The author has already described Gaius as “dear friend” or “beloved” (τῷ ἀγαπητῷ, tw agaphtw) in v. 1; he will address Gaius in the same way in vv. 5 and 11 (᾿Αγαπητέ, Agaphte). This is a term of endearment and personal warmth, much as it is when used by the author as an address in 1 John 2:7.

² tn BDAG 821 s.v. πιστός 1.b offers the translation “act loyally” for this context, a usage which is not common but does fit well here. Since the author is going to ask Gaius for additional help for these missionaries in the following verse, he begins here by commending Gaius for all that he has already done in this regard.

sn When the author tells Gaius “you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do” he is commending him for his faithful service to the traveling missionaries (the brothers). Gaius has assisted them, and they have now returned with a report of this to the author (3 John 3).