| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, | 1From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), |
| 2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: | 2because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever. |
| 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. | 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love. |
| 4I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. | 4I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us. |
| 5And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. | 5But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another. |
| 6And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. | 6(Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it. |
| 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. | 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! |
| 8Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. | 8Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward. |
| 9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. | 9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. |
| 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, | 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, |
| 11for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. | 11because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds. |
| 12Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. | 12Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete. |
| 13The children of your elect sister greet you. | 13The children of your elect sister greet you. |
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