| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 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 an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), |
| 2because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. | 2because of the truth that resides 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 Christ the Son of the Father, 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 rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father 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. | 5But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another. |
| 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. | 6(Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in 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, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! |
| 8Watch yourselves so you don't lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. | 8Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a 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 goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching 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 and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, |
| 11for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works. | 11because the person who gives him a greeting 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. | 12Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete. |
| 13The children of your elect sister send you greetings. | 13The children of your elect sister greet you. |
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