*aThe elder unto bthe elect lady and her children, cwhom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have dknown ethe truth; 2 ffor the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 ghGrace †be with you, gmercy, and ghpeace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, cin truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children iwalking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, knot as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but kthat which we had from the beginning, kthat we love one another. 6 And lthis is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, mas ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7 For nmany deceivers are entered into the world, owho confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. oThis is pa deceiver and an nantichrist. 8 qLook to yourselves, rthat we lose not those things which we have ||rrwrought, but that swe receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever ttransgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, uhath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he uhath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, vreceive him not into your house, vneither bid him God speed: 11 for he that biddeth him God speed wis partaker of his evil deeds.

12 xHaving many things to write unto you, I would not write with ypaper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak †face to face, zthat ||our joy may be full. 13 The children of thy belect sister greet thee. Amen.