1 Presbyter electae dominae et filiis eius, quos ego diligo in veritate, etnon ego solus, sed et omnes, qui noverunt veritatem, | 1 The Presbyter to the chosen Lady and to her children whom I love in truth--and not only I but also all who know the truth-- |
2 propter veritatem, quaepermanet in nobis et nobiscum erit in sempiternum. | 2 because of the truth that dwells in us and will be with us forever. |
3 Erit nobiscum gratia,misericordia, pax a Deo Patre et a Iesu Christo, Filio Patris, in veritate etcaritate.
| 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son in truth and love. |
4 Gavisus sum valde, quoniam inveni de filiis tuis ambulantes in veritate, sicutmandatum accepimus a Patre. | 4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. |
5 Et nunc rogo te, domina, non tamquam mandatumnovum scribens tibi, sed quod habuimus ab initio, ut diligamus alterutrum. | 5 But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. |
6 Ethaec est caritas, ut ambulemus secundum mandata eius; hoc mandatum est,quemadmodum audistis ab initio, ut in eo ambuletis.
| 6 For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk. |
7 Quoniam multi seductores prodierunt in mundum, qui non confitentur IesumChristum venientem in carne; hic est seductor et antichristus. | 7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist. |
8 Videtevosmetipsos, ne perdatis, quae operati estis, sed ut mercedem plenam accipiatis.
| 8 Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. |
9 Omnis, qui ultra procedit et non manet in doctrina Christi, Deum non habet;qui permanet in doctri na, hic et Patrem et Filium habet. | 9 Anyone who is so "progressive" as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. |
10 Si quis venit advos et hanc doctrinam non affert, nolite accipere eum in domum nec “ Ave ”ei dixeritis; | 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; |
11 qui enim dicit illi: “ Ave ”, communicat operibus illiusmalignis.
| 11 for whoever greets him shares in his evil works. |
12 Plura habens vobis scribere, nolui per chartam et atramentum; spero enim mefuturum apud vos, et os ad os loqui, ut gaudium nostrum plenum sit.
| 12 Although I have much to write to you, I do not intend to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and to speak face to face so that our joy may be complete. |
13 Salutant te filii sororis tuae electae.
| 13 The children of your chosen sister send you greetings. |