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 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.