1 The elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth--and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth--
2 because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us {forever}.
3 Grace, mercy, peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in truth and love.
4 {I was very glad} because I found [some] of your children walking in [the] truth, just as {the Father commanded us}.
5 And now I ask you, lady (not as [if I were] writing a new commandment to you, but [one] that we have had from the beginning), that we should love one another.
6 And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in [the] flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!
8 Watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have worked for, but receive a full reward.
9 Everyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in the teaching--this person has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into [your] house and do not speak a greeting to him,
11 because the one who speaks a greeting to him shares in his evil deeds.
12 [Although] I have many [things] to write to you, I do not want [to do so] by means of paper and ink, but I hope to be with you and to speak {face to face}, so that your joy may be complete.