1 The elder, to my favourite lady and her children, who I love in truth, and not I alone, but rather also all those who have known the truth,

2 through the truth which is abiding in us, and will be with us forever.

3 [also] with us will be grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

4 I was very serenely cheerful to have found of your children walking in truth, such as a commandment we received from the Father.

5 And now I ask you, lady, not which new commandment I am writing to you, but rather which we have held from the beginning, that we might love one another.

6 And this is the love, that we might walk according to the commandments of Him. This is the commandment, just as you all heard from the beginning, that in it, you all might walk.

7 Because many deceivers went out into the world, who are not acknowledging Jesus Christ is come in flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8 You all look to yourselves, that you all don't destroy that which we have toiled, but rather you all received full wages.

9 All leading forward and not enduring in the instruction of Christ, he has not God. The one enduring in the doctrine, he has both the Father and the Son.

10 If there is come one unto you, and does not bear this instruction, you all take not him into [your] house, and you all speak not a greeting to him.

11 For the one speaking a greeting to him partakes of the evil work of him.

12 Having many things to write to you, I am not willing through paper and ink, but rather I have confidence to come to you all, and face to face speak, that our joy might be filled up.

13 The children of your favourite sister greet you.

2004-11-08T15:39:48