2 John 1; 3 John 1

2 John 1

1 The Elder: To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth-and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth-

2 because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever.

3 Grace, mercy, and 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 to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.

5 So now I urge you, lady-not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning-that we love one another.

6 And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.

7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8 Watch yourselves so that you don't lose what we have worked for, but you may receive a full reward.

9 Anyone who does not remain in the teaching about Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him;

11 for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works.

12 Though I have many things to write to you, I don't want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.

3 John 1

1 To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

3 For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified to your [faithfulness] to the truth-how you are walking in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Dear friend, you are showing your faith by whatever you do for the brothers, and this [you are doing] for strangers;

6 they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God,

7 since they set out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from pagans.

8 Therefore, we ought to support such men, so that we can be co-workers with the truth.

9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive us.

10 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

12 Demetrius has a [good] testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I have many things to write you, but I don't want to write to you with pen and ink.

14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.