2 John 1; 3 John 1; Jude 1

1 From the Elder. To the chosen ladyn and her children: I love all of you in the truth, and all those who know the truth love you.

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

3 Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, will be with us in truth and love.

4 I was very happy to learn that some of your children are following the way of truth, as the Father commanded us.

5 And now, dear lady, this is not a new command but is the same command we have had from the beginning. I ask you that we all love each other.

6 And love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is this: Live a life of love.

7 Many false teachers are in the world now who do not confess that Jesus Christ came to earth as a human. Anyone who does not confess this is a false teacher and an enemy of Christ.

8 Be careful yourselves that you do not lose everything you have worked for, but that you receive your full reward.

9 Anyone who goes beyond Christ's teaching and does not continue to follow only his teaching does not have God. But whoever continues to follow the teaching of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

10 If someone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not welcome or accept that person into your house.

11 If you welcome such a person, you share in the evil work.

12 I have many things to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so we can be full of joy.

13 The children of your chosen sistern greet you.

1 From the Elder. To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth:

2 My dear friend, I know your soul is doing fine, and I pray that you are doing well in every way and that your health is good.

3 I was very happy when some brothers and sistersn came and told me about the truth in your life and how you are following the way of truth.

4 Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are following the way of truth.

5 My dear friend, it is good that you help the brothers and sisters, even those you do not know.

6 They told the church about your love. Please help them to continue their trip in a way worthy of God.

7 They started out in service to Christ, and they have been accepting nothing from nonbelievers.

8 So we should help such people; when we do, we share in their work for the truth.

9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be their leader, will not listen to us.

10 So if I come, I will talk about what Diotrephes is doing, about how he lies and says evil things about us. But more than that, he refuses to accept the other brothers and sisters; he even stops those who do want to accept them and puts them out of the church.

11 My dear friend, do not follow what is bad; follow what is good. The one who does good belongs to God. But the one who does evil has never known God.

12 Everyone says good things about Demetrius, and the truth agrees with what they say. We also speak well of him, and you know what we say is true.

13 I have many things I want to write you, but I do not want to use pen and ink.

14 I hope to see you soon and talk face to face.

15 Peace to you. The friends here greet you. Please greet each friend there by name.

1 From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. To all who have been called by God. God the Father loves you, and you have been kept safe in Jesus Christ:

2 Mercy, peace, and love be yours richly.

3 Dear friends, I wanted very much to write you about the salvation we all share. But I felt the need to write you about something else: I want to encourage you to fight hard for the faith that was given the holy people of God once and for all time.

4 Some people have secretly entered your group. Long ago the prophets wrote about these people who will be judged guilty. They are against God and have changed the grace of our God into a reason for sexual sin. They also refuse to accept Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.

5 I want to remind you of some things you already know: Remember that the Lord saved his people by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. But later he destroyed all those who did not believe.

6 And remember the angels who did not keep their place of power but left their proper home. The Lord has kept these angels in darkness, bound with everlasting chains, to be judged on the great day.

7 Also remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrahn and the other towns around them. In the same way they were full of sexual sin and people who desired sexual relations that God does not allow. They suffer the punishment of eternal fire, as an example for all to see.

8 It is the same with these people who have entered your group. They are guided by dreams and make themselves filthy with sin. They reject God's authority and speak against the angels.

9 Not even the archangeln Michael, when he argued with the devil about who would have the body of Moses, dared to judge the devil guilty. Instead, he said, "The Lord punish you."

10 But these people speak against things they do not understand. And what they do know, by feeling, as dumb animals know things, are the very things that destroy them.

11 It will be terrible for them. They have followed the way of Cain, and for money they have given themselves to doing the wrong that Balaam did. They have fought against God as Korah did, and like Korah, they surely will be destroyed.

12 They are like dirty spots in your special Christian meals you share. They eat with you and have no fear, caring only for themselves. They are clouds without rain, which the wind blows around. They are autumn trees without fruit that are pulled out of the ground. So they are twice dead.

13 They are like wild waves of the sea, tossing up their own shameful actions like foam. They are like stars that wander in the sky. A place in the blackest darkness has been kept for them forever.

14 Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam, said about these people: "Look, the Lord is coming with many thousands of his holy angels to

15 judge every person. He is coming to punish all who are against God for all the evil they have done against him. And he will punish the sinners who are against God for all the evil they have said against him."

16 These people complain and blame others, doing the evil things they want to do. They brag about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

17 Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said before.

18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be people who laugh about God, following their own evil desires which are against God."

19 These are the people who divide you, people whose thoughts are only of this world, who do not have the Spirit.

20 But dear friends, use your most holy faith to build yourselves up, praying in the Holy Spirit.

21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the Lord Jesus Christ with his mercy to give you life forever.

22 Show mercy to some people who have doubts.

23 Take others out of the fire, and save them. Show mercy mixed with fear to others, hating even their clothes which are dirty from sin.

24 God is strong and can help you not to fall. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and can give you great joy.

25 He is the only God, the One who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.