| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 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), | 1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth— |
| 2because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever. | 2because the truth lives 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 Son of the Father, in truth and love. | 3Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. Live in the Truth |
| 4I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us. | 4How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. |
| 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. | 5I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. |
| 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. | 6Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. |
| 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! | 7I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. |
| 8Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward. | 8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. |
| 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. | 9Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. |
| 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, | 10If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. |
| 11because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds. | 11Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work. Conclusion |
| 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. | 12I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete. |
| 13The children of your elect sister greet you. | 13Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God. |
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