The 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;
For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us,
and shall be with us for ever.
Grace 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.
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy
children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from
the Father.
And 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 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.
For 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.
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those
things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full
reward.
Whosoever 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.
If there come any unto you, and bring not
this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God
speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is
partaker of his evil deeds.
Having 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.
The children of thy elect sister greet thee.
Amen.