(Pioneer Bible Translators and The Word for the World use the following introduction in many of their translation projects around the world.)
The letter of 3 John was written by the Apostle John between 50 and 100 years after the birth of Christ. John does not identify himself as the author, but instead calls himself the elder (1:1). He does the same in 2 John (1:1). It is believed that John wrote The Gospel according to John and the three letters 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John while living in Ephesus.
John wrote this letter to a believer named Gaius. He addresses Gaius as a friend and instructs him to be hospitable to Christian brothers who are traveling through the area.
Outline:
1. John introduces his letter (1:1).
2. He then encourages Gaius and instructs him to show hospitality to the brothers (1:2-8).
3. Next, he speaks of two other men, Diotrephes and Demetrius (1:9-12).
4. Finally he concludes his letter (1:13-14).
La lettre de 3 Jean a été écrite par l’apôtre Jean entre 85 et 90 ans après la naissance de Christ. Jean ne s’identifie pas comme l’auteur, au lieu de cela il s’appelle l’ancien (1 :1). Il fait la même chose en 2 Jean (1 :1). On pense que Jean a écrit l’Evangile selon Jean et les 3 lettres 1 Jean, 2 Jean et 3 Jean quand il vivait à Ephèse.
Jean a écrit cette lettre à un croyant qui s’appelait Gaïus. Il s’adresse à Gaius comme un ami et lui donne des instructions d’être hospitalier envers des frères en Christ qui passent dans la région.
Résumé
1. Jean introduit sa lettre (1 :1).
2. Ensuite il encourage Gaïus et lui donne des instructions pour montrer de l’hospitalité envers les frères (1 :2-8).
3. Puis il parle de deux autres hommes, Diotrèphe et Démétrius (1 :9-12).
4. Finalement il conclut sa lettre (1 :13-14).
Translation: Swahili
Utangulizi wa kitabu cha 3 Yohana
Barua ya 3 Yohana iliandikwa na Mtume Yohana katika kipindi kinachokaribia mwaka wa 90 baada ya kuzaliwa Yesu Kristo. Yohana hajitambulishi mwenyewe kama mwandishi, lakini badala yake anajiita mzee (3 Yohana 1:1). Anafanya hivyo hivyo katika 2 Yohana (1:1). Inaaminika kwamba Yohana aliandika Injili kama ilivyoandikwa na Yohana na barua tatu yaani 1 Yohana, 2 Yohana, na 3 Yohana wakati alipokuwa akiishi katika mji wa Efeso.
Yohana aliiandika barua hii kwa muumini aliyeitwa Gayo. Alimtaja Gayo kama rafiki na akampa maelekezo akitaka awe mkarimu kwa ndugu Wakristo waliokuwa wakisafiri kupitia eneo lake.
Muhtasari:
1. Yohana anaitambulisha barua yake (1:1).
2. Kisha anamtia moyo Gayo akimuelekeza aonyeshe ukarimu kwa ndugu waumini (1:2-8).
3. Halafu, anawazungumzia watu wengine wawili, Diotrefe na Demetrio (1:9-12).
4. Mwisho anatoa hitimisho (1:13-14).
(The Catholic Christian Community Bible [first English edition 1997, other translations into Indonesian, Chinese, Cebuano, Chavacano, French, Ilonggo, Korean, Quechuan, Spanish, and Tagalog] “for the Christian Communities of the Third World” uses the following introduction.)
To the Christians who knew him, the apostle John was not “Saint John,” but a man. For a certain Diotrephes, to whom John gave the responsibility of a community that we do not know, John was a bothersome old man. In order to better dominate his church, Diotrephes was cutting off the relationship.
John, however, in his three letters, as in the Gospel, speaks of the “communion” which must exist among Christians. Any church or group must remain open to others, maintaining constant contact with them. Paul also insists on this responsibility: to welcome in their homes all Christians coming from other places in order to strengthen the bonds of the common faith.
Down below are the introductions in the Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Spanish editions.
Sa mga Kristiyano na nakakakilala sa kanya, ang apostol na si Juan ay hindi si “San Juan,” ngunit isang tao. Sa isang nagngangalang Diotrefes, na pinagkatiwalaan ni Juan ng isang pamayanan na hindi natin kilala, si Juan ay isang matandang lalaking nakayayamot. At upang higit siyang makapangyari sa simbahan, pinutol ni Diotrepes ang pakikipag-ugnayan.
Sa kabaligtaran naman, sa kanyang tatlong liham, tulad sa Ebanghelyo, binabanggit ni Juan ang “pakikipagkaisa” na nararapat mamayani sa mga Kristiyano. Alinmang simbahan o grupo ay kailangang manatiling bukas sa iba, at laging may pakikipag-ugnayan sa kanila. Iginiit din ni Pablo ang pananagutang ito: na tanggapin sa kanilang tahanan ang mga Kristiyanong nagmumula sa iba-ibang dako upang mapatibay ang bigkis ng pananampalataya.
Translation: Cebuano
Alang sa mga Kristyano nga nakaila niya, ang apostol nga si Juan dili mao si “San Juan”, apan usa ka tawo. Alang ni Diotrepes, nga gisaligan ni Juan sa responsibilidad sa katilingban nga wala mailhi, si Juan samokan nga tigulang. Aron makadominar siya sa simbahan, mibulag si Diotrepes.
Sa tulo ka sulat, ug sa Ebanghelyo, naghisgot si Juan og “panaghiusa”, nga naa sa mga Kristyano. Bisag unsang simbahana, o pundoka, kinahanglan nga abli ni alang sa uban, ug magpabiling naglambigit sa usag usa. Si Pablo miinsister sab ining kaakohana: sa pagdawat sa mga panimalay sa tanang Kristyanos nga gikan sa ubang lugar aron paglig-on sa kahiusa sa ilang pagtoo.
Translation: Spanish
Para los cristianos que lo conocían, el apóstol Juan no era «san Juan», sino un hombre. Para un cierto Diotrefes, al que había hecho responsable de no sabemos qué comunidad, Juan era un anciano molesto. Y Diotrefes, para mejor dominar en su Iglesia, cortaba las relaciones.
Juan habla en sus tres cartas, como también en el Evangelio, de la «comunión» que ha de existir entre todos los cristianos. Toda Iglesia y todo grupo debe permanecer abierto a los demás, manteniendo constantes relaciones con ellos. Pablo también recalca este deber: recibir en su propia casa a los cristianos que vienen de otros lugares para estrechar los lazos de la fe común.
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