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

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.

Salutation

The elder,

To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth, for the sake of the truth, which remains in us, and will be with us forever:

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

Truth and Love

I greatly rejoiced that I found some of your children walking in truth as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

For many deceivers, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Each one is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that we do not lose those things for which we have worked, but that we receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in the teaching of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, nor greet him. 11 For whoever greets him takes part in his evil deeds.

Final Greetings

12 I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to write with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and speak face to face that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

EL anciano á la señora elegida y á sus hijos, á los cuales yo amo en verdad y no yo solo, sino también todos los que han conocido la verdad,

Por la verdad que está en nosotros, y será perpetuamente con nosotros:

Sea con vosotros gracia, misericordia, y paz de Dios Padre, y del Señor Jesucristo, Hijo del Padre, en verdad y en amor.

Mucho me he gozado, porque he hallado de tus hijos, que andan en verdad, como nosotros hemos recibido el mandamiento del Padre.

Y ahora te ruego, señora, no como escribiéndote un nuevo mandamiento, sino aquel que nosotros hemos tenido desde el principio, que nos amemos unos á otros.

Y este es amor, que andemos según sus mandamientos. Este es el mandamiento: Que andéis en él, como vosotros habéis oído desde el principio.

Porque muchos engañadores son entrados en el mundo, los cuales no confiesan que Jesucristo ha venido en carne. Este tal el engañador es, y el anticristo.

Mirad por vosotros mismos, porque no perdamos las cosas que hemos obrado, sino que recibamos galardón cumplido.

Cualquiera que se rebela, y no persevera en la doctrina de Cristo, no tiene á Dios: el que persevera en la doctrina de Cristo, el tal tiene al Padre y al Hijo.

10 Si alguno viene á vosotros, y no trae esta doctrina, no lo recibáis en casa, ni le digáis: ­bienvenido!

11 Porque el que le dice bienvenido, comunica con sus malas obras.

12 Aunque tengo muchas cosas que escribiros, no he querido comunicarlas por medio de papel y tinta; mas espero ir á vosotros, y hablar boca á boca, para que nuestro gozo sea cumplido.

13 Los hijos de tu hermana elegida te saludan. Amén.