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Walk According to His Commandments

^1 (C1)The elder of the church addresses this letter to the ^(C2)elect (chosen) ^(F1)(C3)lady and her children, whom I ^(C4)love in truth—and not only I, but also all who ^(C5)know and understand the truth—^2 (C1)because of the truth which lives ^(C2)in our hearts and will be ^(C3)with us forever:^3 (C1)Grace, mercy, and peace (inner calm, a sense of spiritual well-being) will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, in truth and love.

^4 (C1)I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.⁵ Now I ask you, lady, ^(C1)not as if I were writing to you a new commandment, but simply reminding you of the one which we have had ^(C1)from the beginning, that we ^(F1)(C2)love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.⁶ And ^(C1)this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, ^(C2)just as you have heard ^(C3)from the beginning, that you should always walk in love.

⁷ For ^(C1)many deceivers heretics, posing as Christians have ^(C2)gone out into the world, those who ^(C3)do not acknowledge and confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (bodily form). This person, the kind who does this is ^(C1)the deceiver and the ^(F1)(C4)antichrist that is, the antagonist of Christ.^8 (C1)Watch yourselves, so ^(C2)that you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward when He grants rewards to faithful believers.⁹ Anyone who runs on ahead and ^(C1)does not remain in the doctrine of Christ that is, one who is not content with what He taught, does not have God; but the one who continues to remain in the teaching of Christ does have God, he has both the Father and the Son.¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching but diminishes or adds to the doctrine of Christ, ^(C1)do not receive or welcome him into your house, and do not give him a greeting or any encouragement;¹¹ for the one who gives him a greeting who encourages him or wishes him success, unwittingly ^(C1)participates in his evil deeds.

^12 (C1)I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to do so with paper (papyrus) and black (ink); but I hope to come to you and speak with you ^(F1)face to face, so that ^(F2)your ^(C2)joy may be complete. ^(VR1)

¹³ The children of your ^(C1)elect (chosen) sister greet you.