3 John 1:11 (KJV)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

3 John 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

3 John 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

3 John 1:11 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.

3 John 1:12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

3 John 1:13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "beloved", "follow", "evil", "good", and "doeth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "beloved" and "follow", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "Wherefore if I come I will remember..." into verse 12's "Demetrius hath good report of all men...", so "beloved" and "follow" belong inside that flow. In 3 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "beloved" and "follow" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.