1 T he elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

2 f or the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:

for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

3 G race, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

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 I rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.

I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.

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

Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

6 A nd this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.

And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

7 F or many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8 L ook to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.

Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

9 W hosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

10 I f any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;

11 f or he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.

for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

12 H aving many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.

Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.

13 T he children of thine elect sister salute thee.

The children of your chosen sister greet you.