Salutation

1 From the elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I alone, but also all who have come to know the truth,

2 on account of the truth, which remains in us, and will be with us throughout the Age,

3 grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of the father, in truth and love.

Walk in Truth

4 I rejoiced greatly at having found some of your children walking in the truth according to how we received a commandment from the father.

Walk in Love

5 And now I ask you, lady, not as if I were writing you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another.

6 And this is love: that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, given for you to walk in it.

Beware of False Teachers

7 For many deceivers have come into the world who do not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Any such person is a deceiver and an antichrist.

8 Watch out that we do not lose what we have achieved, but that we receive a full reward.

9 No-one who transgresses and does not remain in the teaching of Christ has God. It is he who remains in the teaching of Christ who has both the father and the son.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not bid him welcome.

11 For he who bids him welcome partakes of his evil works.

Benediction

12 Although I have many things to write to you, I did not want to do it with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, in order that our joy may be made full.

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