2 John 1; 3 John 1

1 From the church leader. To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love because we share the truth. I'm not the only one who loves you. Everyone who knows the truth also loves you.

2 We love you because of the truth which lives in us and will be with us forever.

3 Good will, mercy, and peace will be with us! They come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, who in truth and love is the Father's Son.

4 I was very happy to find some of your children living in the truth as the Father has commanded us.

5 Dear lady, I'm now requesting that we continue to love each other. It's not as though I'm writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, from the beginning we were commanded to love each other.

6 Love means that we live by doing what he commands. We were commanded to live in love, and you have heard this from the beginning.

7 Many people who deceive others have gone into the world. They refuse to declare that Jesus Christ came in flesh and blood. This is the mark of a deceiver and an antichrist.

8 Be careful that you don't destroy what we've worked for, but that you receive your full reward.

9 Everyone who doesn't continue to teach what Christ taught doesn't have God. The person who continues to teach what Christ taught has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you and doesn't bring these teachings, don't take him into your home or even greet him.

11 Whoever greets him shares the evil things he's doing.

12 I have a lot to write to you. I would prefer not to write a letter. Instead, I hope to visit and talk things over with you personally. Then we will be completely filled with joy.

13 The children of your chosen sister greet you.

1 From the church leader. To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love because we share the truth.

2 Dear friend, I know that you are spiritually well. I pray that you're doing well in every other way and that you're healthy.

3 I was very happy when some believers came and told us that you are living according to the truth.

4 Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.

5 Dear friend, you are showing your faith in whatever you do for other believers, especially when they're your guests.

6 These believers have told the congregation about your love. You will do well to support them on their trip in a way that proves you belong to God.

7 After all, they went on their trip to serve the one named Christ, and they didn't accept any help from the people to whom they went.

8 We must support believers who go on trips like this so that we can work together with them in spreading the truth.

9 I wrote a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won't accept us.

10 For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he's doing. He's not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers [we send] as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation.

11 Dear friend, never imitate evil, but imitate good. The person who does good is from God. The person who does evil has never seen God.

12 Everyone, including the truth itself, says good things about Demetrius. We also say good things about him, and you know that what we say is true.

13 I have a lot to write to you. However, I would rather not write.

14 I hope to visit you very soon. Then we can talk things over personally.

15 Peace be with you! Your friends here send you their greetings. Greet each of our friends by name.