1  THE ELDER, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have come to know the truth,

1  The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

1  THE minister, to the mother church, and her children, those whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all those who have known the truth,

2  on account of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever

2  for the truth`s sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever

2  because the truth which dwells in us shall be with us for eternity.

3  Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God [the] Father and from [the] Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

3  May grace, mercy, and peace be with you from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus, the Son of the Father, in truth and in love.

4  I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, just as we received commandment from the Father.

5  And now I ask you, lady, not as writing a new commandment to you, but one which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.

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

6  This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

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

7  Because many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in [the] flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

7  For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8  Look to yourselves, lest we should lose those things for which we worked, but that we should receive a full reward.

8  Be cautious for yourselves, lest you lose what you have accomplished, and so that, instead, you may receive a full reward.

8  Look to yourselves, that you lose not those things which you have accomplished, but that you receive a full reward.

9  Everyone who transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ, this [one] has both the Father and the Son.

9  Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.

9  Whosoever transgresses, and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. He who abides in His doctrine, has both the Father and the Son.

10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, and do not greet him;

10  If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into [your] house, and give him no greeting

11  for he who greets him shares in his evil works.

11  For whoever speaks a greeting to him, is speaking with his evil works.

11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

12  Although I had many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, in order that our joy may be fulfilled.

12  Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write them] with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.

12  I have much more to write to you, but I am not willing to do so through paper and ink. For I hope that I may be with you in the future, and that I may speak face to face, so that your joy may be full.

13  The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

13  The sons of your Elect Sister greet you.