| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
| 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-- | 1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth— |
| 2because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. | 2because the truth lives 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, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. Live in the Truth |
| 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. | 4How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. |
| 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. | 5I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one 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. | 6Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. |
| 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. | 7I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a 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. | 8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so 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. | 9Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with 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 your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. |
| 11for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works. | 11Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work. Conclusion |
| 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. | 12I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete. |
| 13The children of your elect sister send you greetings. | 13Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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