^aThe elder of the church addresses this letter to the ^belect (chosen) ^1clady and her children, whom I ^dlove in truth—and not only I, but also all who ^eknow and understand the truth— 2 ^abecause of the truth which lives ^bin our hearts and will be ^cwith us forever: 3 ^aGrace, mercy, and peace (inner calm, a sense of spiritual well-being) will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

4 ^aI was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, ^anot as if I were writing to you a new commandment, but simply reminding you of the one which we have had ^bfrom the beginning, that we ^1clove and unselfishly seek the best for one another. 6 And ^athis is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, ^bjust as you have heard ^cfrom the beginning, that you should always walk in love.

7 For ^amany deceivers heretics, posing as Christians have ^bgone out into the world, those who ^cdo not acknowledge and confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (bodily form) . This person, the kind who does this is ^dthe deceiver and the ^1eantichrist that is, the antagonist of Christ. 8 ^aWatch yourselves, so ^bthat you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward when He grants rewards to faithful believers. 9 Anyone who runs on ahead and ^adoes not remain in the doctrine of Christ that is, one who is not content with what He taught, does not have God; but the one who continues to remain in the teaching of Christ does have God, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching but diminishes or adds to the doctrine of Christ, ^ado not receive or welcome him into your house, and do not give him a greeting or any encouragement; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting who encourages him or wishes him success, unwittingly ^aparticipates in his evil deeds.

12 ^aI have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to do so with paper (papyrus) and black (ink) ; but I hope to come to you and speak with you ¹face to face, so that ²your ^bjoy may be complete. Num 12:8

13 The children of your ^aelect (chosen) sister greet you.

^aThe elder to the ^bchosen ^clady and her children, whom I ^dlove in truth; and not only I, but also all who ^eknow the truth, 2 ^abecause of the truth which remains ^bin us and will be ^cwith us forever: 3 ^aGrace, 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 ^aI was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received a commandment to do from the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, ^anot as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had ^bfrom the beginning, that we ^clove one another. 6 And ^athis is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, ^bjust as you have heard ^cfrom the beginning, that you are to walk in it.

7 For ^amany deceivers have ^bgone out into the world, those who ^cdo not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is ^dthe deceiver and the ^eantichrist. 8 ^aWatch yourselves, ^bthat you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 ¹Anyone who ²goes too far and ^adoes not remain in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, ^ado not receive him into your house, and do not ¹give him a greeting; 11 for the one who ¹gives him a greeting ^2aparticipates in his evil deeds.

12 ^aThough 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 ¹face to face, so that ²your ^bjoy may be made complete.

13 The children of your ^achosen sister greet you.