1 T he elder unto 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;

The church leader writes to the chosen lady and to her children. I love you because of the truth. I am not the only one who loves you. All who know the truth love you.

2 F or the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

It is because the truth is in us and will be with us forever.

3 G race 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.

Loving-favor and loving-kindness and peace are ours as we live in truth and love. These come from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Son of the Father.

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

I am happy to find some of your children living in the truth as the Father has said we should.

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

And now I ask you, lady, that we have love one for the other. I am not writing to you about a new Law but an old one we have had from the beginning.

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

Love means that we should live by obeying His Word. From the beginning He has said in His Word that our hearts should be full of love.

7 F or 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.

There are many false teachers in the world. They do not say that Jesus Christ came in a human body. Such a person does not tell the truth. He is the false-christ.

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

Watch yourselves! You do not want to lose what we have worked for. You want to get what has been promised to you.

9 W hosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Anyone who goes too far and does not live by the teachings of Christ does not have God. If you live by what Christ taught, you have both the Father and the Son.

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

If a person comes to you with some other kind of teaching, do not take him into your home. Do not even greet him.

11 F or he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The person who does has a share in his sins.

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

I have many things to write to you. I do not want to write them in this letter. But I hope to come to you soon. Then we can talk about these things together that your joy may be full.

13 T he children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

The children of your chosen sister greet you.