| 1 From the Elder: my greetings to the Lady, the chosen one, and to her children, whom I love in truth --and I am not the only one, for so do al who have come to know the Truth -- and I am not the only one, for so sodo al who have come to know the Truth- | 1 The 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; |
| 2 because of the truth that remains in us and wil be with us for ever. | 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. |
| 3 In our life of truth and love, we shal have grace, faithful love and peace from God the Father and fromJesus Christ, the Son of the Father. | 3 Grace 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. |
| 4 It has given me great joy to find that children of yours have been living the life of truth as we werecommanded by the Father. | 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. |
| 5 And now I am asking you -- dear lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but onlythe one which we have had from the beginning -- that we should love one another. | 5 And 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. |
| 6 To love is to live according to his commandments: this is the commandment which you have heardsince the beginning, to live a life of love. | 6 And 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. |
| 7 There are many deceivers at large in the world, refusing to acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming inhuman nature. They are the Deceiver; they are the Antichrist. | 7 For 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. |
| 8 Watch yourselves, or all our work will be lost and you wil forfeit your full reward. | 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. |
| 9 If anybody does not remain in the teaching of Christ but goes beyond it, he does not have God with him:only those who remain in what he taught can have the Father and the Son with them. | 9 Whosoever 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. |
| 10 If anyone comes to you bringing a different doctrine, you must not receive him into your house or evengive him a greeting. | 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: |
| 11 Whoever greets him has a share in his wicked activities. | 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. |
| 12 There are several things I have to tell you, but I have thought it best not to trust them to paper and ink.I hope instead to visit you and talk to you in person, so that our joy may be complete. | 12 Having 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. |
| 13 Greetings to you from the children of your sister, the chosen one. | 13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. |