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¹ The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who have known the truth,² because of the truth remaining among us, and will be with us forever.³ Grace, mercy, peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.⁴ I rejoiced greatly because I found your children walking in truth, as we received command from the Father.

⁵ And I now request you, lady, not writing as a new commandment, but one which we 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, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

⁷ Because many deceivers went out into the world, those not confessing Jesus Christ to have come in the flesh, this is the deceiver and the antichrist.⁸ Watch yourselves, that we may not lose the things we worked out, but that we may receive a full reward.⁹ Everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. The one abiding in the doctrine of Christ, this one has the Father and the Son.

¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bear this doctrine, do not receive him into the house, and do not speak a greeting to him.¹¹ For the one speaking a greeting shares in his evil works.

¹² Having many things to write to you, I do not intend to speak by means of paper and ink, but I am hoping to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.¹³ The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.