| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, | 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-- |
| 2because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: | 2because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. |
| 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord 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 rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. | 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. |
| 5And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. | 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. |
| 6This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. | 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. |
| 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. | 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. |
| 8Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. | 8Watch yourselves so you don't lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. |
| 9Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. | 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. |
| 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; | 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; |
| 11for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. | 11for the one who says, "Welcome," to him shares in his evil works. |
| 12Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. | 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. |
| 13The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen. | 13The children of your elect sister send you greetings. |
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