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Walk in Truth and Love

(A)The elder to the (B)elect (C)lady and her children, whom I (D)love in truth, and not only I, but also all who (E)know the truth, for (F)the sake of the truth which abides (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 rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we received commandment 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 should walk in it.

For (Q)many deceivers have (R)gone out into the world, those who (S)do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is (T)the deceiver and the (U)antichrist. (V)See to yourselves, (W)that you do not lose what we accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. [a]Anyone who [b]goes too far and (X)does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. The one who abides in the teaching, he 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 give him a greeting, 11 for the one who gives him a greeting [c](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 face to face, so that [d]your (AB)joy may be made complete.

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

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:9 Lit Everyone
  2. 2 John 1:9 Lit goes on ahead
  3. 2 John 1:11 Lit fellowships
  4. 2 John 1:12 One early ms our

The Second Epistle of John

This Epistle is written to a woman of great renown,  4 who brought up her children in the fear of God:  6 he exhorteth her to continue in Christian charity, 7 that she accompany not with Antichrists, 10 but avoid them.

The Elder to the [a]elect [b]Lady, and her children, [c]whom I love in the truth: and not I only, but also all that have known the truth,

For the truth’s sake which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever:

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

[e]I rejoiced greatly, that I found of thy children walking in [f]truth, as we have received a commandment of the Father.

And now beseech I thee, Lady, (not as writing a new commandment unto thee, but the same which we had from the beginning) that we (A)love one another.

And this is that love that we should walk after his commandments. This commandment is, that as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

[g]For many deceivers are entered into this world, which confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. He that is such one, is a deceiver and an Antichrist.

[h][i]Look to yourselves, that we lose not the things, which we have done, but that we may receive a full reward.

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 [j]If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, (B)receive him not to house, neither bid him Godspeed.

11 For he that biddeth him Godspeed, is partaker of his evil deeds. Although I had many things to write unto you, yet would I not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.

12 The sons of thine elect sister greet thee, Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 2 John 1:1 This is no proper name, but to be taken as the word soundeth, that is to say to the worthy and noble Lady.
  2. 2 John 1:1 Excellent and honorable Dame.
  3. 2 John 1:1 The bond of Christian conjunction or linking together, is the true and constant profession of the truth.
  4. 2 John 1:3 With true knowledge, which hath always love joined with it, and following it.
  5. 2 John 1:4 This true profession consisteth both in love one toward another which the Lord hath commanded, and also especially in wholesome and sound doctrine, which also is delivered unto us: for the commandment of God is a sound and sure foundation both of the rule of manners and of doctrine, and these cannot be separated the one from the other.
  6. 2 John 1:4 According as the truth directeth them.
  7. 2 John 1:7 Antichrists fighting against the person and office of Christ, were already crept into the Church in the time of the Apostles.
  8. 2 John 1:8 He that maketh shipwreck of doctrine, loseth all.
  9. 2 John 1:8 Beware and take good heed.
  10. 2 John 1:10 We ought to have nothing to do with them that defend perverse doctrine.

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.

He writes to a certain lady, rejoices that her children walk in the truth, exhorts them unto love, warns them to beware of such deceivers as deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and prays them to continue in the doctrine of Christ, and to have nothing to do with those who do not bring this teaching.

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth – and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth that dwells in us and shall be in us forever.

With you be grace, 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 some of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech you, dear lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that same which we had from the beginning: that we should love one another. And this is the love: that we should walk according to his commandments.

For this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning: walk in him. For many deceivers have entered into the world, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not that which we have wrought, but that we may have a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who endures in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, neither bid him Godspeed. 11 For he who bids him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.

12 I had many things to write to you. Nevertheless, I would rather not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come to you and speak with you mouth to mouth, so that our joy may be full.

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