Greetings
1 The elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the elect (chosen) (a)lady and her children, whom I love in truth—and not only I, but also all who know and understand the truth—
1 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;
1 (A)The elder to the (B)chosen (C)lady and her children, whom I (D)love in truth; and not only I, but also all who (E)know the truth,
1 The Elder:(a)To the elect(A) lady(b) and her children: I love all of you in the truth—and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth(B)—
1 From:aThe Elder To: The chosen lady and her children, whom I genuinely love, and not only I but also all who know the truth,
3 Grace, mercy, and peace (inner calm, a sense of spiritual well-being) will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
3 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.
3 (I)Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
3 Grace, mercy, and peace(D) will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son(E) of the Father, in truth and love.(F)
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus the Messiah, the Father's Son, in truth and love.
Truth And Deception
4 I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
4 (J)I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.
4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth,(G) in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.
4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children living truthfully, just as the Father has commanded us.
Warning Against False Teachers
5 Now I ask you, lady, not as if I were writing to you a new commandment, but [simply reminding you of] the one which we have had from the beginning, that we (b)love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.
5 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.
5 Now I ask you, lady, (K)not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had (L)from the beginning, that we (M)love one another.
5 So now I urge you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.(H)
5 Dear lady, I am now requesting of you that we all continue to love one another. It is not as though I am writing to give you a new commandment, but one that we have had from the beginning.
6 And this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should [always] walk in love.
6 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.
6 And (N)this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, (O)just as you have heard (P)from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
6 And this is love:(I) that we walk according to His commands.(J) This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.(c)
6 And this is what demonstrates love: that we live according to God's commandments. Just as you have heard from the beginning what he commanded, you must live by it.
Reject Teachers Who Don'T Teach What Christ Taught
7 For many deceivers [heretics, posing as Christians] have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge and confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (bodily form). This [person, the kind who does this] is the deceiver and the (c)antichrist [that is, the antagonist of Christ].
7 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.
7 For (Q)many deceivers have (R)gone out into the world, those who (S)do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is (T)the deceiver and the (U)antichrist.
7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.(d)(K) This is the deceiver and the antichrist.(L)
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world. They refuse to acknowledge Jesus the Messiah as having become human. Any such person is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward [when He grants rewards to faithful believers].
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
8 (V)Watch yourselves, (W)that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
8 Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we(e) have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.(M)
8 See to it that you don't destroy what we have worked for, but that you receive your full reward.
9 Anyone who runs on ahead and does not remain in the doctrine of Christ [that is, one who is not content with what He taught], does not have God; but the one who continues to remain in the teaching [of Christ does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.
9 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.
9 (a)Anyone who (b)goes too far and (X)does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching(N) but goes beyond it, does not have God.(O) The one who remains(P) in that teaching, this one has both the Father(Q) and the Son.(R)
9 Everyone who does not remain true to the teaching of the Messiah, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The person who remains true to the teaching of the Messiah has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [but diminishes or adds to the doctrine of Christ], do not receive or welcome him into your house, and do not give him a greeting or any encouragement;
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, (Y)do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive(S) him into your home, and don’t say, “Welcome,” to him;
10 If anyone comes to you but does not present his teachings, do not receive him into your house or even welcome him,
Farewell
12 I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to do so with paper (papyrus) and black (ink); but I hope to come to you and speak with you (d)face to face, so that (e)your joy may be complete.(A)
12 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.
12 (AA)Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that (c)your (AB)joy may be made full.
12 Though I have many things to write to you,(V) I don’t want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face(f) so that our joy(W) may be complete.
12 Although I have a great deal to write to you, I would prefer not to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.