1The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers. 3For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth. 4I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.
5Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers. 6They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God, 7because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
9I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say. 10Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, he doesn’t receive the brothers himself, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.
11Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God. 12Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
13I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen; 14but I hope to see you soon. Then we will speak face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Church (Gk. ἐκκλησία, ekklesia). (9; Matt 16:18; 18:17; Acts 8:1, Eph 1:22, Rev 1:4, 11, 20; 2:1) Strong’s 1577
The word church [1] is used one hundred fourteen times in the NT. It is formed from the preposition ἐκ (ek), “out of,” and the verb καλέω (kaleo), to “call.” It literally means “those who are called out.” It is used widely in Greek literature to refer to a regularly summoned legislative body, a casual gathering, or a congregation with shared beliefs. The word is used in the Greek Old Testament for the Hebrew word קהל (qahal), the congregation of Israel. It is used in one passage in the NT for a gathering other than church, Acts 19:30, 33. The typical use in the NT is to refer to a local church, that is, a particular body of believers (Rom 16:1; 2 Cor 1:1Gal 1:22; 1 Thess 1:1). This word is also used to refer to the universal church, that is, all true Christians (believers in Jesus Christ) from the Day of Pentecost until the rapture (Acts 12:1; Col 1:18). It is important to note that from the perspective of the NT, the word “church” [1] only ever refers to the people of God and their assembly. Even though modern Christians use it to refer to the “church” building, it is never used this way in the NT. To think and speak biblically about “church” is to think and speak about saved people universally, or a congregation of believers committed to one another and who assemble regularly. In NT thought, the assembly of God’s people is a powerful and unique expression of the presence of God (Eph 2:21). The church is never mentioned in the OT, with its first mention in the Bible in Matt 16:18.
[1] The origin of the English word "church" is from the Middle English word chirche, from Old English cirice, (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/church) and is related to the German word Kirche, and from the Greek word kuriakon κυριακός, η, ον, "those belonging to the Lord." BAG, p. 459.