1:1 | The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth--and not I only, but also all who know the truth-- |
1:2 | because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: |
1:3 | Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. |
1:4 | It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. |
1:5 | And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. |
1:6 | And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. |
1:7 | Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. |
1:8 | Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. |
1:9 | Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. |
1:10 | If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. |
1:11 | Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. |
1:12 | I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. |
1:13 | The children of your chosen sister send their greetings. |
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