| | 1 | The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth--and not I only, but also all who know the truth-- | |
| | 2 | because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: | |
| | 3 | Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. | |
| | 4 | It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. | |
| | 5 | And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. | |
| | 6 | And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. | |
| | 7 | Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. | |
| | 8 | Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. | |
| | 9 | Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. | |
| | 10 | If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. | |
| | 11 | Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. | |
| | 12 | I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. | |
| | 13 | The children of your chosen sister send their greetings. | |
