我这做长老的写信给蒙拣选的女士[a]和你的儿女,就是我本着真理所爱的。你们不单是我所爱的,也是一切认识真理的人所爱的。 我们爱你们,因为真理在我们里面,并且永远与我们同在。

从父上帝和祂儿子耶稣基督而来的恩典、怜悯和平安也必在真理和爱中与我们同在!

彼此相爱

你的儿女当中有人按照我们从父领受的命令遵行真理,我知道后非常欣慰。 女士啊,我现在劝你,我们大家要彼此相爱。这不是新命令,而是我们从起初就已经领受的命令。 爱就是遵行上帝的命令,这是你们从起初就听过又当遵行的命令。

提防骗子

因为现在世上有许多骗子出来迷惑人,他们否认耶稣基督曾降世为人。这样的人是骗子,是敌基督者。 你们要谨慎,好得到完满的赏赐,免得我们前功尽弃。 谁偏离基督的教导,谁心中就没有上帝;谁遵守基督的教导,谁就有父和子与他同在。 10 若有人到你们那里不传基督的教导,不要请他到家里,也不要问候他, 11 因为问候他就是与他同流合污。

结语

12 我还有许多事要告诉你们,但不想借助纸墨,而是希望有机会到你们那里与你们当面畅谈,使我们充满喜乐。

13 你那蒙拣选之姊妹的儿女问候你。

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 学者一般认为“蒙拣选的女士”是指教会。

From the Elder—

To the dear Lady and to her children,[a] whom I truly love. And I am not the only one, but all who know the truth love you, because the truth remains in us and will be with us forever.

May God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, give us grace, mercy, and peace; may they be ours in truth and love.

Truth and Love

How happy I was to find that some of your children live in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. (A)And so I ask you, dear Lady: let us all love one another. This is no new command I am writing you; it is the command which we have had from the beginning. This love I speak of means that we must live in obedience to God's commands. The command, as you have all heard from the beginning, is that you must all live in love.

Many deceivers have gone out over the world, people who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came as a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and the Enemy of Christ. Be on your guard, then, so that you will not lose what we[b] have worked for, but will receive your reward in full.

Anyone who does not stay with the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. Whoever does stay with the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 So then, if some come to you who do not bring this teaching, do not welcome them in your homes; do not even say, “Peace be with you.” 11 For anyone who wishes them peace becomes their partner in the evil things they do.

Final Words

12 I have so much to tell you, but I would rather not do it with paper and ink; instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you personally, so that we shall be completely happy.

13 The children of your dear Sister[c] send you their greetings.

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:1 This probably refers to a church and its members (also in verses 4, 5).
  2. 2 John 1:8 we; some manuscripts have you.
  3. 2 John 1:13 This probably refers to the members of the church to which the writer belonged.

The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

Greeting the Elect Lady

The Elder,

To the [a]elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known (A)the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

(B)Grace, mercy, and peace will be with [b]you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Walk in Christ’s Commandments

I (C)rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: (D)that we love one another. (E)This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that (F)as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

For (G)many deceivers have gone out into the world (H)who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. (I)This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (J)Look to yourselves, (K)that [c]we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

(L)Whoever [d]transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and (M)does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

John’s Farewell Greeting

12 (N)Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, (O)that our joy may be full.

13 (P)The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:1 chosen
  2. 2 John 1:3 NU, M us
  3. 2 John 1:8 NU you
  4. 2 John 1:9 NU goes ahead