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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.

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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

Greeting

From the elder.

To the chosen gentlewoman and her children, whom I truly love (and I am not the only one, but also all who know the truth), because of the truth that remains with us and will be with us forever.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be ours who live in truth and love.

Love each other

I was overjoyed to find some of your children living in the truth, just as we had been commanded by the Father. Now, dear friends, I am requesting that we love each other. It’s not as though I’m writing a new command to you, but it’s one we have had from the beginning. This is love: that we live according to his commands. This is the command that you heard from the beginning: live in love.

Reject false teachers

Many deceivers have gone into the world who do not confess that Jesus Christ came as a human being. This kind of person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we’ve worked for but instead receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not continue in the teaching about Christ does not have God. Whoever continues in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 Whoever comes to you who does not affirm this teaching should neither be received nor welcomed into your home, 11 because welcoming people like that is the same thing as sharing in their evil actions.

Plans to visit

12 I have a lot to tell you. I don’t want to use paper and ink, but I hope to visit you and talk with you face-to-face, so that our joy can be complete.

Final greeting

13 Your chosen sister’s children greet you.

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