THE presbyter to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all who have known the truth:

I rejoiced greatly that I found thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment from the Father.

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing to thee a new commandment, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another.

And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, as ye have heard from the beginning, That ye should walk in it.

Take heed to yourselves that we lose not the things which we have wrought, but receive a full reward.