2 John
Christian Standard Bible
Greeting
1 The elder:
To the elect(A) lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not only I, but also all who know the truth(B)— 2 because of the truth that remains in us(C) and will be with us forever.
3 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
4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth,(G) in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. 5 So now I ask 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) 6 This is love:(I) that we walk according to his commands.(J) This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love.[a]
7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.(K) This is the deceiver and the antichrist.(L) 8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we[b] have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.(M) 9 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 do not greet him; 11 for the one who greets 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 use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy(W) may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.
2 John
Worldwide English (New Testament)
1 From the leader of the church people. I send greetings to the lady whom God has chosen, and to her children. I love you all because you have the truth about Christ. I am not the only one who loves you. All those who know the truth, love you also.
2 We love you because of the truth we share which is in our hearts and will be with us for ever.
3 God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Father's son, will bless us. They will be kind to us. They will give us peace. They will do these things because they are true, and they love us.
4 I was very glad to find that some of your children are living in the right way. They are living the way the Father told us to live.
5 And now I want to ask you to do something. I am not telling you to do something new. It is the same law we had from the beginning. It is this, `We must love one another.'
6 We love God when we live the way God has told us. This is the law you heard from the beginning. You must live by it.
7 Many men who fool people have gone out into the world. They believe that Jesus Christ did not come to live as a man with a body. These men belong to the one who fools people. He is against Christ.
8 Watch out for yourselves! Do not lose what you have worked for, but receive all the reward that you should have.
9 Everyone who goes too far, and does not believe what Christ taught, does not believe God. Anyone who believes what Christ taught, believes both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you who does not teach what Christ taught, do not take him into your house. Do not even greet him.
11 Anyone who greets him helps him in the wrong things he does.
12 I have much to write to you. But I do not want to write it on paper. I hope to come to visit you and talk with you. Then we will be very happy.
13 The children of your sister whom God has chosen send their greetings.
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