| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; | 1The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth--and not I only, but also all who know the truth-- |
| 2For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. | 2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: |
| 3Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. | 3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. |
| 4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. | 4It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. |
| 5And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. | 5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. |
| 6And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. | 6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. |
| 7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. | 7I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. |
| 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. | 8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. |
| 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. | 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. |
| 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: | 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. |
| 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. | 11Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. |
| 12Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. | 12I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. |
| 13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. | 13The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings. |
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