1 The elder to an elect lady and her children whom I love in truth??nd not I only, but also all who know the truth??2 for the truth's sake which abides in us, and will be with us forever:
3 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 I rejoiced exceedingly, because I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
5 And now I beseech you, lady, not as writing a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandment. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.
7 Because many deceivers went out into the world, who confess not Jesus Christ as coming in flesh. This is the deceiver and the Anti-Christ.
8 Take heed to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.
9 Every one who leads forward, and abides not in the teaching of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you, and brings not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and say not to him, "Greeting,"
11 for he that says to him, "Greeting," partakes in his evil works.
12 Having many things to write to you, I was not willing to write them with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you, and speak mouth to mouth, that your joy may be made full.