| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth--and not I only, but also all who know the truth-- | 1The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth— |
| 2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: | 2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: |
| 3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. | 3Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love. |
| 4It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. | 4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us. |
| 5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. | 5And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. |
| 6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. | 6And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love. |
| 7I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. | 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. |
| 8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. | 8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded. |
| 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. | 9Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son. |
| 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. | 10If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. |
| 11Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. | 11Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds. |
| 12I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. | 12I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. |
| 13The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings. | 13The children of your elect sister send you greetings. |
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