To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love because we share the truth. I’m not the only one who loves you. Everyone who knows the truth also loves you. ²We love you because of the truth which lives in us and will be with us forever.

³Good will,^bmercy, and peace will be with us. They come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, who in truth and love is the Father’s Son.

Living in the Truth

⁴I was very happy to find some of your children living in the truth as the Father has commanded us. ⁵Dear lady, I’m now requesting that we continue to love each other. It’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, from the beginning we were commanded to love each other. ⁶Love means that we live by doing what he commands. We were commanded to live in love, and you have heard this from the beginning.

Reject Teachers Who Don’t Teach What Christ Taught

⁷Many people who deceive others have gone into the world. They refuse to declare that Jesus Christ came in flesh and blood. This is the mark of a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸Be careful that you don’t destroy what we’ve worked for, but that you receive your full reward.

⁹Everyone who doesn’t continue to teach what Christ taught doesn’t have God. The person who continues to teach what Christ taught has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring these teachings, don’t take him into your home or even greet him. ¹¹Whoever greets him shares the evil things he’s doing.

Farewell

¹²I have a lot to write to you. I would prefer not to write a letter. Instead, I hope to visit and talk things over with you personally. Then we will be completely filled with joy.

¹³The children of your chosen sister greet you.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

a 1 Or “pastor,” or “elder.”
b 3 Or “Grace.”