2 John

GREETING

The elder:

To the elect^a lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not only I, but also all who know the truth^b—²because of the truth that remains in us^c and will be with us forever.

³Grace, mercy, and peace^d will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son^e of the Father, in truth and love.^f

TRUTH AND DECEPTION

⁴I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth,^g in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. ⁵So now I ask 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.^{h 6}This is love:ⁱ that we walk according to his commands.^j This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love.^A

⁷Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.^k This is the deceiver and the antichrist.^{l 8}Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we^B have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.^{m 9}Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teachingⁿ but goes beyond it does not have God.^o The one who remains^p in that teaching, this one has both the Father^q and the Son.^{r 10}If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive^s him into your home, and do not greet him; ¹¹for the one who greets him shares^t in his evil works.^u

FAREWELL

¹²Though I have many things to write to you,^v I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy^w may be complete.

¹³The children of your elect sister send you greetings.