El anciano^a a la señora^b escogida^1c y a sus hijos, a quienes amo en verdad^d, y nosolo yo, sino también todos los que conocen la verdad^e, 2 a causa de la verdad^a que permanece en nosotros^b y que estará con nosotros para siempre^c: 3 Gracia, misericordia y paz serán con nosotros^a, de Dios Padre y de Jesucristo, Hijo del Padre, en verdad y amor.

4 Mucho me alegré al encontrar algunos de tus hijos andando en la verdad^a, tal como hemos recibido mandamiento del Padre. 5 Y ahora te ruego, señora, no como escribiéndote un nuevo mandamiento^a, sino el que hemos tenido desde el principio^b, que nos amemos unos a otros^c. 6 Y este es el amor^1a: que andemos conforme a sus mandamientos. Este es el mandamiento tal como lo habéis oído^b desde el principio^c, para que andéis en él. 7 Pues muchos engañadores^a han salido al mundo^b que no confiesan que Jesucristo ha venido¹ en carne^c. Ese es el engañador^d y el anticristo^e. 8 Tened cuidado^a para que no perdáis lo que hemos¹ logrado^b, sino que recibáis abundante recompensa. 9 Todo el que se desvía y no permanece en la enseñanza¹ de Cristo^a, no tiene a Dios; el que permanece en la enseñanza² tiene tanto al Padre como al Hijo. 10 Si alguno viene a vosotros y no trae esta enseñanza¹, no lo recibáis en casa^a, ni lo saludéis, 11 pues el que lo saluda participa en sus malas obras^a.

12 Aunque tengo muchas cosas que escribiros^a, no quiero hacerlo con papel y tinta, sino que espero ir a vosotros y hablar cara a cara¹, para que vuestro² gozo sea completo^b. 13 Te saludan los hijos de tu hermana escogida^1a.

^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 for ^athe sake of the truth which abides ^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 very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received 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 should 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 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 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, ^ado not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting ^aparticipates 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 face to face, so that ¹your ^bjoy may be made full.

13 The children of your ^achosen sister greet you.

^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.