Greeting
1 The elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth--and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth--
2
because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us {forever}.
3
Grace, mercy, peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in truth and love.
4
{I was very glad} because I found [some] of your children walking in [the] truth, just as {the Father commanded us}.
Watch Out for False Teachers
5 And now I ask you, lady (not as [if I were] writing a new commandment to you, but [one] that we have had from the beginning), that we should love one another.
6
And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in [the] flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!
8
Watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have worked for, but receive a full reward.