2 John

Greeting

The Elder: ^a

To the elect ^blady ^cand her children: I love all of you in the truth—and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth ^d— ²because of the truth that remains in us ^eand will be with us forever.

³Grace, mercy, and peace ^fwill be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son ^gof the Father, in truth and love. ^h

Truth and Deception

⁴I was very glad to find some of your children walking in the truth, ⁱin keeping with a command we have received from the Father. 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. ^j6And this is love: ^kthat we walk according to His commands. ^lThis is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love. ^m

⁷Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. ^noThis is the deceiver and the antichrist. ^p8Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we ^qhave worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. ^r9Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching ^sbut goes beyond it, does not have God. ^tThe one who remains ^uin that teaching, this one has both the Father ^vand the Son. ^w10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive ^xhim into your home, and don’t say, “Welcome,” to him; ¹¹for the one who says, “Welcome,” to him shares ^yin his evil works. ^z

Farewell

¹²Though I have many things to write to you, ^aI don’t want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face ^bso that our joy ^cmay be complete.

¹³The children of your elect sister send you greetings.