Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 From the Elder - To the dear Lady and to her children, whom I truly love. And I am not the only one, but all who know the truth love you,
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The elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth;
2 because the truth remains in us and will be with us forever.
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for the truth's sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:
3 May God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, give us grace, mercy, and peace; may they be ours in truth and love.
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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.
4 How happy I was to find that some of your children live in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
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I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
5 And so I ask you, dear Lady: let us all love one another. This is no new command I am writing you; it is the command which we have had from the beginning.
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Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 This love I speak of means that we must live in obedience to God's commands. The command, as you have all heard from the beginning, is that you must all live in love.
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This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
7 Many deceivers have gone out over the world, people who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came as a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and the Enemy of Christ.
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For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
8 Be on your guard, then, so that you will not lose what we have worked for, but will receive your reward in full.
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Watch yourselves, that we don't lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Anyone who does not stay with the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. Whoever does stay with the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
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Whoever transgresses and doesn't remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn't have God. He who remains in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.
10 So then, if some come to you who do not bring this teaching, do not welcome them in your homes; do not even say, "Peace be with you."
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If anyone comes to you, and doesn't bring this teaching, don't receive him into your house, and don't welcome him,
11 For anyone who wishes them peace becomes their partner in the evil things they do.
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for he who welcomes him participates in his evil works.
12 I have so much to tell you, but I would rather not do it with paper and ink; instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you personally, so that we shall be completely happy.
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Having many things to write to you, I don't want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
13 The children of your dear Sister send you their greetings.
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The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.