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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.

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 Elder:[a]

To the elect(A) lady[b] and her children: I love all of you in the truth—and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth(B) because of the truth that remains in us(C) and will be with us forever.

Grace, mercy, and peace(D) will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son(E) of the Father, in truth and love.(F)

Truth and Deception

I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth,(G) in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. So now I urge you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.(H) And this is love:(I) that we walk according to His commands.(J) This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.[c]

Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.[d](K) This is the deceiver and the antichrist.(L) Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we[e] have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.(M) Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching(N) but goes beyond it, does not have God.(O) The one who remains(P) in that teaching, this one has both the Father(Q) and the Son.(R) 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive(S) him into your home, and don’t say, “Welcome,” to him; 11 for the one who says, “Welcome,” to him shares(T) in his evil works.(U)

Farewell

12 Though I have many things to write to you,(V) I don’t want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face[f] so that our joy(W) may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:1 Or Presbyter
  2. 2 John 1:1 Or Kyria, a proper name; probably a literary figure for a local church known to John; the children would be its members.
  3. 2 John 1:6 Lit in it
  4. 2 John 1:7 Or confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh
  5. 2 John 1:8 Other mss read you
  6. 2 John 1:12 Lit mouth to mouth

The elder unto the elect [a]lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth; for the truth’s sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever: Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

I rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, [b]lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Look to yourselves, that ye [c]lose not the things which [d]we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. Whosoever [e]goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: 11 for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.

12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full. 13 The children of thine elect sister salute thee.

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:1 Or, Cyria
  2. 2 John 1:5 Or, Cyria
  3. 2 John 1:8 Or, destroy
  4. 2 John 1:8 Many ancient authorities read ye.
  5. 2 John 1:9 Or, taketh the lead. Compare 3 Jn. 9.

The Elder to the choice Kyria, and to her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those having known the truth,

because of the truth that is remaining in us, and with us shall be to the age,

there shall be with you grace, kindness, peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

I rejoiced exceedingly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, even as a command we did receive from the Father;

and now I beseech thee, Kyria, not as writing to thee a new command, but which we had from the beginning, that we may love one another,

and this is the love, that we may walk according to His commands; this is the command, even as ye did hear from the beginning, that in it ye may walk,

because many leading astray did enter into the world, who are not confessing Jesus Christ coming in flesh; this one is he who is leading astray, and the antichrist.

See to yourselves that ye may not lose the things that we wrought, but a full reward may receive;

every one who is transgressing, and is not remaining in the teaching of the Christ, hath not God; he who is remaining in the teaching of the Christ, this one hath both the Father and the Son;

10 if any one doth come unto you, and this teaching doth not bear, receive him not into the house, and say not to him, `Hail!'

11 for he who is saying to him, `Hail,' hath fellowship with his evil works.

12 Many things having to write to you, I did not intend through paper and ink, but I hope to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full;

13 salute thee do the children of thy choice sister. Amen.