Greetings
1 [This is being written by] the elder to the lady chosen [by God], and to her children [Note: The terms "lady" and "children" here refer to a congregation and the Christians who belong to it. See I Peter 5:13; II John 13], whom I love in the truth. [Note: Perhaps this phrase means "whom I truly love"]. And I am not the only one [to love you], but all those [other congregations] who know the truth [of God], also love you.
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 Unearned favor, mercy and peace will be with us from God, the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, in truth and love [i.e., truth and love will accompany the other blessings].
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 very happy when I learned that some of your children [i.e., members of the congregation] are living in [harmony with the] truth, just as we have been commanded to do 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 And now I ask you, lady [See verse 1], not as though writing a new commandment to you, but [I wanted to remind you of] one that we had [heard] from the beginning [of Christ's ministry]: [It is] that we should love 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 [the true meaning of] love: That we should live in obedience to God's commandments. And this is the commandment, just as you heard from the beginning, that you should live in it [i.e., live a life of 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 have begun circulating in the world; they are those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come [to earth] in a physical body. Such a person is the deceiver and the antichrist [See I John 2:18f].
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 Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you do not lose what we [Note: Some Greek manuscripts say "you"] worked for [i.e., the spiritual blessings you have acquired], but [continue faithful] so that you will receive a full reward. [See Luke 12:47-48; James 3:1; Matt. 20:1-15].
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 Every person who does not continue to follow the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God [in his life]. [But], the person who continues to follow in the teaching [of Christ] has both the Father and the Son [in his life].
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 [i.e., to your meetings] who does not bring this teaching [about Christ], you should not welcome him into your home or give him [any] greetings [i.e., suggesting approval or endorsement].
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 [more] things to write to you about, but will not do so with paper and ink, since I hope to visit you [soon] and speak to you in person, so that our joy may be complete.
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.