¹ The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,

² for the sake of the truth dwelling in us, and which shall be with us forever.

³ Grace will 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.

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

⁵ And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I wrote 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 commandments. This is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

⁷ For many deceivers have entered into the world, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the anti-christ.

⁸ Look to yourselves, so that we may not lose those things which we worked out, but that we may receive a full reward.

⁹ Everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ, he 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, nor speak a greeting to him.

¹¹ For he who speaks a greeting to him is partaker of his evil deeds.

¹² Having many things to write to you, I do not want to say with paper and ink. But I trust to come to you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be full.

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