2 John
New International Reader's Version
1 I, the elder, am writing this letter.
I am sending it to the lady chosen by God and to her children. I love all of you because of the truth. I’m not the only one who loves you. So does everyone who knows the truth. 2 I love you because of the truth that is alive in us. This truth will be with us forever.
3 God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son will give you grace, mercy and peace. These blessings will be with us because we love the truth.
4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children living by the truth. That’s just what the Father commanded us to do. 5 Dear lady, I’m not writing you a new command. I’m writing a command we’ve had from the beginning. I’m asking that we love one another. 6 The way we show our love is to obey God’s commands. He commands you to lead a life of love. That’s what you have heard from the beginning.
7 I say this because many people have tried to fool others. These people have gone out into the world. They don’t agree that Jesus Christ came in a human body. People like this try to trick others. These people are like the great enemy of Christ. 8 Watch out that you don’t lose what we have worked for. Make sure that you get your full reward. 9 Suppose someone thinks they know more than we do. So they don’t follow Christ’s teaching. Then that person doesn’t belong to God. But whoever follows Christ’s teaching belongs to the Father and the Son. 10 Suppose someone comes to you and doesn’t teach these truths. Then don’t take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their evil work.
12 I have a lot to write to you. But I don’t want to use paper and ink. I hope I can visit you instead. Then I can talk with you face to face. That will make our joy complete.
13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
2 John
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Salutation
1 The elder[a] to the elect lady[b] and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
Truth and Love
4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 And now I beg you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you[c] have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. 10 If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; 11 for he who greets him shares his wicked work.
Final Greetings
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children[d] of your elect sister greet you.
Footnotes
- 1 The elder: Perhaps the head of the group or “college” of elders that presided over each Christian community. John was head not only of the Ephesus community but of all the communities in the province of Asia.
- 1 the elect lady: Probably not an individual lady but a particular church or community in Asia.
- 2 John 1:8 Other ancient authorities read we
- 13 children: i.e., the Christians of Ephesus.
約翰二書
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
1 我這作長老的寫信給蒙揀選的女士[a]和你的兒女，就是我本著真理所愛的。你們不單是我所愛的，也是一切認識真理的人所愛的。 2 我們愛你們，因為真理在我們裡面，並且永遠與我們同在。
3 從父上帝和祂兒子耶穌基督而來的恩典、憐憫和平安也必在真理和愛中與我們同在！
彼此相愛
4 你的兒女當中有人按照我們從父領受的命令遵行真理，我知道後非常欣慰。 5 女士啊，我現在勸你，我們大家要彼此相愛。這不是新命令，而是我們從起初就已經領受的命令。 6 愛就是遵行上帝的命令，這是你們從起初就聽過又當遵行的命令。
提防騙子
7 因為現在世上有許多騙子出來迷惑人，他們否認耶穌基督曾降世為人。這樣的人是騙子，是敵基督者。 8 你們要謹慎，好得到完滿的賞賜，免得我們前功盡棄。 9 誰偏離基督的教導，誰心中就沒有上帝；誰遵守基督的教導，誰就有父和子與他同在。 10 若有人到你們那裡不傳基督的教導，不要請他到家裡，也不要問候他， 11 因為問候他就是與他同流合污。
結語
12 我還有許多事要告訴你們，但不想藉助紙墨，而是希望有機會到你們那裡與你們當面暢談，使我們充滿喜樂。
13 你那蒙揀選之姊妹的兒女問候你。
Footnotes
- 1·1 學者一般認為「蒙揀選的女士」是指教會。
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