| New Living Translation | King James Bible |
| 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-- | 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; |
| 2because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. | 2For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 4How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. | 4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 6Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. | 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: |
| 11Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work. | 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 13Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God. | 13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. |
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All Rights Reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of |
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