I am speaking to you as my [spiritual] children; open up [your hearts] to me in return.
3 John 1:4 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) I do not have any greater joy than to hear that my [spiritual] children are living according to the truth. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living their lives in the Truth. American Standard Version (1901) Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. Common English Bible I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth. Catholic Public Domain Version I have no greater grace than this, when I hear that my sons are walking in the truth. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version I have no greater grace than this, to hear that my children walk in truth. |
I am speaking to you as my [spiritual] children; open up [your hearts] to me in return.
But, when I saw that they did not act in harmony with [the principles of] the truth of the Gospel [message], I said to Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, being a Jew, act like a Gentile [by showing such discrimination], how do you expect to persuade Gentiles to live like Jews [i.e., like Christian Jews who are taught to love all people]?”
My little children [i.e., dear ones], I am again deeply pained [as a woman in childbirth] over your [spiritual] condition, until [the life of] Christ becomes formed in your character.
For you know that we treated each one of you like a father treats his own children, exhorting you, and comforting you,
[It is being sent] to Timothy, my true son in the faith [i.e., in the realm of Christianity, not in a physical sense]. May you have unearned favor, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
[It is being sent] to Timothy, my dearly loved son. May you have unearned favor, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I appeal to you on behalf of my son, Onesimus, whom I [spiritually] conceived while [here] in prison.
My little children [i.e., dear ones], I am writing this to you so that you will not sin anymore. But if anyone does sin, we have Someone to go to the Father on our behalf; it is Jesus Christ, the [only] righteous One.
I was very happy when I learned that my children [i.e., members of the congregation there] are living in [harmony with the] truth, just as we have been commanded to do by the Father.