The elder,(A)

To the lady chosen by God(B) and to her children, whom I love in the truth(C)—and not I only, but also all who know the truth(D) because of the truth,(E) which lives in us(F) and will be with us forever:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ,(G) the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth,(H) just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning.(I) I ask that we love one another. And this is love:(J) that we walk in obedience to his commands.(K) As you have heard from the beginning,(L) his command is that you walk in love.

I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ(M) as coming in the flesh,(N) have gone out into the world.(O) Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.(P) Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.(Q) Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ(R) does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.(S) 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.(T) 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares(U) in their wicked work.

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face,(V) so that our joy may be complete.(W)

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God,(X) send their greetings.

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts you

Greetings

This letter is from John, the elder.[a]

I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children,[b] whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth— because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

Live in the Truth

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

I am writing to remind you, dear friends,[c] that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came[d] in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we[e] have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 11 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

Conclusion

12 I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.

13 Greetings from the children of your sister,[f] chosen by God.

Footnotes

  1. 1a Greek From the elder.
  2. 1b Or the church God has chosen and its members.
  3. 5 Greek I urge you, lady.
  4. 7 Or will come.
  5. 8 Some manuscripts read you.
  6. 13 Or from the members of your sister church.

Walk According to His Commandments

(A)The elder to the (B)chosen (C)lady and her children, whom I (D)love in truth; and not only I, but also all who (E)know the truth, (F)because of the truth which remains (G)in us and will be (H)with us forever: (I)Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

(J)I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received a commandment to do from the Father. Now I ask you, lady, (K)not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had (L)from the beginning, that we (M)love one another. And (N)this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, (O)just as you have heard (P)from the beginning, that you are to walk in it.

For (Q)many deceivers have (R)gone out into the world, those who (S)do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is (T)the deceiver and the (U)antichrist. (V)Watch yourselves, (W)that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. [a]Anyone who [b]goes too far and (X)does not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, (Y)do not receive him into your house, and do not [c]give him a greeting; 11 for the one who [d]gives him a greeting [e](Z)participates in his evil deeds.

12 (AA)Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak [f]face to face, so that [g]your (AB)joy may be made complete.

13 The children of your (AC)chosen sister greet you.

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:9 Lit Everyone
  2. 2 John 1:9 Lit goes on ahead
  3. 2 John 1:10 Lit say to him
  4. 2 John 1:11 Lit says to him
  5. 2 John 1:11 I.e., shares responsibility for them
  6. 2 John 1:12 Lit mouth to mouth
  7. 2 John 1:12 One early ms our

Saludo

El anciano(A) a la señora(B) escogida[a](C) y a sus hijos, a quienes amo en verdad(D), y no solo yo, sino también todos los que conocen la verdad(E), a causa de la verdad(F) que permanece en nosotros(G) y que estará con nosotros para siempre(H): Gracia, misericordia y paz serán con nosotros(I), de Dios Padre y de Jesucristo, Hijo del Padre, en verdad y amor.

Exhortaciones

Mucho me alegré al encontrar algunos de tus hijos andando en la verdad(J), tal como hemos recibido mandamiento del Padre. Y ahora te ruego, señora, no como escribiéndote un nuevo mandamiento(K), sino el que hemos tenido desde el principio(L), que nos amemos unos a otros(M). Y este es el amor[b](N): que andemos conforme a sus mandamientos. Este es el mandamiento tal como lo habéis oído(O) desde el principio(P), para que andéis en él. Pues muchos engañadores(Q) han salido al mundo(R) que no confiesan que Jesucristo ha venido[c] en carne(S). Ese es el engañador(T) y el anticristo(U). Tened cuidado(V) para que no perdáis lo que hemos[d] logrado(W), sino que recibáis abundante recompensa. Todo el que se desvía y no permanece en la enseñanza[e] de Cristo(X), no tiene a Dios; el que permanece en la enseñanza[f] tiene tanto al Padre como al Hijo. 10 Si alguno viene a vosotros y no trae esta enseñanza[g], no lo recibáis en casa(Y), ni lo saludéis, 11 pues el que lo saluda participa en sus malas obras(Z).

Despedida

12 Aunque tengo muchas cosas que escribiros(AA), no quiero hacerlo con papel y tinta, sino que espero ir a vosotros y hablar cara a cara [h], para que vuestro[i] gozo sea completo(AB). 13 Te saludan los hijos de tu hermana escogida[j](AC).

Footnotes

  1. 2 Juan 1:1 O, elegida
  2. 2 Juan 1:6 O, en esto consiste el amor
  3. 2 Juan 1:7 Lit., a Jesucristo viniendo
  4. 2 Juan 1:8 Algunos mss. antiguos dicen: habéis
  5. 2 Juan 1:9 O, doctrina
  6. 2 Juan 1:9 O, doctrina
  7. 2 Juan 1:10 O, doctrina
  8. 2 Juan 1:12 Lit., boca a boca
  9. 2 Juan 1:12 Algunos mss. antiguos dicen: nuestro
  10. 2 Juan 1:13 O, elegida