| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1The Elder: To the elect lady and her children: I love all of you in the truth--and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth-- | 1From: The Elder To: The chosen lady and her children, whom I genuinely love, and not only I but also all who know the truth, |
| 2because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. | 2that is present in us and will be with us forever. |
| 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. | 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus the Messiah, the Father's Son, in truth and love. |
| 4I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. | 4I was overjoyed to find some of your children living truthfully, just as the Father has commanded us. |
| 5So now I urge you, dear lady--not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning--that we love one another. | 5Dear lady, I am now requesting of you that we all continue to love one another. It is not as though I am writing to give you a new commandment, but one that we have had from the beginning. |
| 6And 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. | 6And this is what demonstrates love: that we live according to God's commandments. Just as you have heard from the beginning what he commanded, you must live by it. |
| 7Many 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. | 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world. They refuse to acknowledge Jesus the Messiah as having become human. Any such person is a deceiver and an antichrist. |
| 8Watch yourselves so you don't lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. | 8See to it that you don't destroy what we have worked for, but that you receive your full reward. |
| 9Anyone who does not remain in Christ's teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. | 9Everyone who does not remain true to the teaching of the Messiah, but goes beyond it, does not have God. The person who remains true to the teaching of the Messiah has both the Father and the Son. |
| 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don't say, "Welcome," to him; | 10If anyone comes to you but does not present his teachings, do not receive him into your house or even welcome him, |
| 11for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works. | 11because the one who welcomes him shares in his evil deeds. |
| 12Though 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. | 12Although I have a great deal to write to you, I would prefer not to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. |
| 13The children of your elect sister send you greetings. | 13The children of your chosen sister greet you. Greetings from John |
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