14 And this is (A)the confidence that we have toward him, that (B)if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and (C)God[a] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. (D)There is sin that leads to death; (E)I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 (F)All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that (G)everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but (H)he who was born of God (I)protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and (J)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and (K)has given us understanding, so that we may know (L)him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and (M)eternal life. 21 Little children, (N)keep yourselves from idols.

Greeting

(O)The elder to the elect lady and her children, (P)whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who (Q)know (R)the truth, (S)because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

(T)Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

Walking in Truth and Love

(U)I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady—(V)not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—(W)that we love one another. And (X)this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just (Y)as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For (Z)many deceivers (AA)have gone out into the world, (AB)those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, (AC)so that you may not lose what we[b] have worked for, but (AD)may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, (AE)does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching (AF)has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, (AG)do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him (AH)takes part in his wicked works.

Final Greetings

12 (AI)Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. (AJ)Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, (AK)so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

Greeting

(AL)The elder to the beloved Gaius, (AM)whom I love in truth.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For (AN)I rejoiced greatly when the brothers[c] came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that (AO)my children are walking in the truth.

Support and Opposition

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for (AP)these brothers, (AQ)strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner (AR)worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of (AS)the name, (AT)accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, (AU)do not imitate evil but imitate good. (AV)Whoever does good is from God; (AW)whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius (AX)has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and (AY)you know that our testimony is true.

Final Greetings

13 (AZ)I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, (BA)each by name.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:16 Greek he
  2. 2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts you
  3. 3 John 1:3 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 5, 10

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