| 1 | ¶ The elder to {the} elect lady and her children, whom *I* love in truth, and not *I* only but also all who have known the truth, | |
| 2 | for the truth?s sake which abides in us and shall be with us to eternity. | |
| 3 | Grace shall be with you, mercy, peace from God {the} Father, and from {the} Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. | |
| 4 | I rejoiced greatly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment from the Father. | |
| 5 | ¶ And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing to thee a new commandment, but that which we have had from {the} beginning, that we should love one another. | |
| 6 | And this is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, according as ye have heard from the beginning, that ye might walk in it. | |
| 7 | ¶ For many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in flesh-this is the deceiver and the antichrist. | |
| 8 | See to yourselves, that we may not lose what we have wrought, but may receive full wages. | |
| 9 | Whosoever goes forward and abides not in the doctrine of the Christ has not God. He that abides in the doctrine, *he* has both the Father and the Son. | |
| 10 | ¶ If any one come to you and bring not this doctrine, do not receive him into {the} house, and greet him not; | |
| 11 | for he who greets him partakes in his wicked works. | |
| 12 | ¶ Having many things to write to you, I would not with paper and ink; but hope to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full. | |
| 13 | The children of thine elect sister greet thee. | |