I, a ruler in the church, send word to the noble sister who is of God's selection, and to her children, for whom I have true love; and not only I, but all who have knowledge of what is true;

Because of this true knowledge which is in us, and will be with us for ever:

May grace, mercy, and peace be with us from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in all true love.

It is an intense joy to me to have found some of your children living true Christian lives, in obedience to the command which we have received from the Father.

Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

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].

No one has God, who instead of remaining true to the teaching of Christ, presses on in advance: but he who remains true to that teaching has both the Father and the Son.