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.

1:1 The elder unto the {a} elect {b} lady and her children, {1} whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

(a) This is not a proper name, but is to be taken as it sounds that is to say, the worthy and noble lady.

(b) Excellent and honourable woman.

(1) The bond of Christian union is the true and constant profession of the truth.

1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in

(c) truth and love.

(c) With true knowledge which always has love united with it, and following it.

1:4 {2} I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in {d} truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

(2) This true profession consists both in love towards one another which the Lord has commanded, and also especially in wholesome and sound doctrine, which also is delivered to us: for the commandment of God is a sound and sure foundation both of the rule of conduct and of doctrine, and these cannot be separated from one another,

(d) According as the truth directs them.

1:7 {3} 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.

(3) Antichrists fighting against the person and office of Christ had already crept into the Church, in the time of the apostles.

1:8 {4} {e} Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

(4) He that makes shipwreck of doctrine, loses all.

(e) Beware, and take good heed.

1:10 {5} If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:

(5) We should have nothing to do with those who defend perverse doctrine.