^{1 Ref} I, a ruler in the church, send word to the noble sister who is of God's selection, and to her children, for whom I have true love; and not only I, but all who have knowledge of what is true;

^{2 Ref} Because of this true knowledge which is in us, and will be with us for ever:

^{3 Ref} May grace, mercy, and peace be with us from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in all true love.

^{4 Ref} It gave me great joy to see some of your children walking in the true way, even as we were ordered to do by the Father.

^{5 Ref} And now, my sister, I make a request to you, not sending you a new law, but the law which we had from the first, that we have love for one another.

^{6 Ref} And love is the keeping of his laws. This is the law which was given to you from the first, so that you might keep it.

^{7 Ref} Because a number of false teachers have gone out into the world, who do not give witness that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Such a one is a false teacher and Antichrist.

^{8 Ref} Keep watch over yourselves, so that you do not make our work of no effect, but may get your full reward.

^{9 Ref} Anyone who goes on and does not keep to the teaching of Christ, has not God: he who keeps to the teaching has the Father and the Son.

^{10 Ref} If anyone comes to you not having this teaching, do not take him into your house or give him words of love:

^{11 Ref} For he who gives him words of love has a part in his evil works.

^{12 Ref} Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be full.

^{13 Ref} The children of your noble sister, who is of God's selection, send you their love.

^{1 Ref} The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

^{2 Ref} for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:

^{3 Ref} Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

^{4 Ref} I rejoice greatly that I have found `certain' of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.

^{5 Ref} And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

^{6 Ref} And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.

^{7 Ref} For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, `even' they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

^{8 Ref} Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.

^{9 Ref} Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.

^{10 Ref} If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into `your' house, and give him no greeting:

^{11 Ref} for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.

^{12 Ref} Having many things to write unto you, I would not `write them' with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.

^{13 Ref} The children of thine elect sister salute thee.

^{1 Ref} 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;

^{2 Ref} For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

^{3 Ref} 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.

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

^{5 Ref} 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.

^{6 Ref} 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.

^{7 Ref} 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.

^{8 Ref} Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

^{9 Ref} 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.

^{10 Ref} If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

^{11 Ref} For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

^{12 Ref} 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.

^{13 Ref} The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.