1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

2 For the truth's sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us for ever.

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

4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

5 And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

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

7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have worked, but that we receive a full reward.

9 Whoever transgresses, and stays not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that stays in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

12 Having many things to write to you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

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

elder. App-189. Here not an official title, but referring to the apostle’s age. Compare Phm 1:9.

unto = to.

elect. Compare 1Pe 1:2. But perhaps used in the sense of "excellent".

lady. Greek. kuria, feminine of kurios. In all probability a proper name, "Kyria".

children. App-108.

love. App-135.

the. Omit.

truth. Seep. 1511. The element or sphere in which the love was seen. Compare Eph 4:15.

also, &c. = all they also.

known. App-132.

For, &c. = On account of (App-104. 2Jn 1:2) the truth.

dwelleth = abideth. Greek. meno. See p. 1511.

for ever. App-151. a.

Grace. Only here, and three times in the Gospel, and twice in Rev., in John’s writings. App-184. Compare 1Ti 1:2.

be = shall be.

mercy. Only here in John.

God. App-98.

Father. App-98.

Lord. The texts omit.

Jesus Christ. App-98.

Son. App-108. The expression "The Son of the Father", is found here only. Compare Joh 1:18. 1Jn 1:3.

love. App-135.

rejoiced. Compare 3Jn 1:3. Several of Paul’s epistles open with thanksgiving.

greatly. Greek. lian. Only here and 3Jn 1:3 in John’s writings.

of. App-104. Not implying that there were others who did not so walk, but referring to such as he had met.

have. Omit.

beseech = ask. App-134.

new. Greek. kainos. See Mat 9:17.

from the beginning. Greek. ap’ arches. See 1Jn 1:1.

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

have. Omit. In this verse is the Figure of speech Antimetabole, "walk . . . commandments commandment . . . walk".

deceivers. Greek. planos. See 2Co 6:8. Compare 1Jn 4:1.

world. App-129.

that, &c. Literally Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. The present participle is used, as in Rev 1:4. In 1Jn 4:2, 1Jn 4:3, the perfect is used, referring to His first coming. This refers to His second coming. Compare Act 1:11.

a, an = the.

antichrist. See 1Jn 2:18.

Look to. App-133.

we. The texts read "ye" in both occurances.

lose. Greek. apollumi. See Joh 17:12.

have wrought. i.e. the truth and love resulting from John’s teaching.

reward. Greek. misthos. In John’s writings only here, Joh 4:36 (wages), and Rev 11:18; Rev 22:12.

transgresseth. App-128. The texts read "goeth before", Greek. proago. See 1Ti 1:18; 1Ti 5:24. Heb 7:18. This refers to false teachers who claimed to bring some higher teaching, beyond the apostle’s doctrine. Compare 1Ti 6:3. 2Ti 1:13; 2Ti 3:14.

abideth. See "dwelleth", 2Jn 1:2.

Christ. App-98.

of Christ. The texts omit.

there . . . any = any one (App-123) cometh.

neither, &c. = and . . . not (App-105).

bid . . . God speed. Literally, say, Hail! (Greek. chairein,

to rejoice. See Mat 26:49).

is partaker = partaketh. Greek. koinoneo. See Rom 15:27. 1Ti 5:22.

evil. App-128.

would. App-102.

with = by means of. App-104. 2Jn 1:1.

paper. Greek. chartes. Only here.

ink. See 2Co 3:3.

trust = hope.

speak. App-121.

face, &c. Literally mouth to (App-104.) mouth.

our. The texts read "your".

joy. See 1Jn 1:4.

full. See 1Jn 1:4.

greet = salute.

Amen. The texts omit.