1
The Elder to the elect lady and her children. Truly I love you all, and not I alone, but also all who know the truth,
2
for the sake of the truth which is continually in our hearts 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 Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4
It is an intense joy to me to have found some of your children living true Christian lives, in obedience to the command which we have received from the Father.
5
And now, dear lady, I pray you--writing to you, as I do, not a new command, but the one which we have had from the very beginning--let us love one another.
6
The love of which I am speaking consists in our living in obedience to God's commands. God's command is that you should live in obedience to what you all heard from the very beginning.
7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world--men who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ who has come in human nature. Such a one is `the deceiver' and `the anti-Christ.'
8
Keep guard over yourselves, so that you may not lose the results of your good deeds, but may receive back a full reward.
9
No one has God, who instead of remaining true to the teaching of Christ, presses on in advance: but he who remains true to that teaching has both the Father and the Son.
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If any one who comes to you does not bring this teaching, do not receive him under your roof nor bid him Farewell.
11
He who bids him Farewell is a sharer in his evil deeds.
12
I have a great deal to say to you all, but will not write it with paper and ink. Yet I hope to come to see you and speak face to face, so that your happiness may be complete.
