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;
2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
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.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have
received a commandment from the Father.
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.
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.
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.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought,
but that we receive a full reward.
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.
10 ¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not
into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
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.
13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
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