2 John 1
1 The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—
To an eminent Christian Lady, and to her Children, from the Officer of the Church. I sincerely love you all, and not I only, but also all those who have learned to know the Truth.
We love you for the sake of that Truth which is always in our hearts; yes, and it will be ours for ever. (aiōn g165)
3 Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.
Blessing, mercy, and peace will be ours — the gift of God, the Father, and of Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son — in a life of truth and love.
4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
It was a great joy to me to find the lives of some of your children guided by the Truth, in obedience to the command that we received from the Father.
5 And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
And now, I pray you, Lady — not as though I were writing a new command for you; no, it is the command which we had from the first — Let us love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
And this is love — to live in obedience to the Father’s commands. This is the Command as you learned from the first, to live in a spirit of love.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
I say this because many impostors have left us to go into the world — men who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ come in our human nature. It is that which marks a man as an impostor and an anti-Christ.
8 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
Take care that you do not lose the fruit of all our work; rather, reap the benefit of it in full.
9 Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.
Every one who goes beyond the limits of the Teaching of the Christ has failed to find God; the man who keeps to that Teaching — he has found both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
If any one comes to you and does not bring this Teaching, do not receive him into your house or welcome him;
11 Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.
for the man who welcomes him is sharing with him in his wicked work.
12 I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
Though I have a great deal to say to you, I would rather not trust it to paper and ink, but I am hoping to come and see you, and to speak with you face to face, so that your joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.
The children of your eminent sister send you their greetings.
