Greeting

¹ From the elder.

To the chosen gentlewoman and her children, whom I truly love (and I am not the only one, but also all who know the truth), ² because of the truth that remains with us and will be with us forever.

³ Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be ours who live in truth and love.

Love each other

⁴ I was overjoyed to find some of your children living in the truth, just as we had been commanded by the Father. ⁵ Now, dear friends, I am requesting that we love each other. It’s not as though I’m writing a new command to you, but it’s one we have had from the beginning. ⁶ This is love: that we live according to his commands. This is the command that you heard from the beginning: live in love.

Reject false teachers

⁷ Many deceivers have gone into the world who do not confess that Jesus Christ came as a human being. This kind of person is the deceiver and the antichrist. ⁸ Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we’ve worked for but instead receive a full reward. ⁹ Anyone who goes too far and does not continue in the teaching about Christ does not have God. Whoever continues in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ Whoever comes to you who does not affirm this teaching should neither be received nor welcomed into your home, ¹¹ because welcoming people like that is the same thing as sharing in their evil actions.

Plans to visit

¹² I have a lot to tell you. I don’t want to use paper and ink, but I hope to visit you and talk with you face-to-face, so that our joy can be complete.

Final greeting

¹³ Your chosen sister’s children greet you.