Greetings to the Chosen Lady

¹The elder,

To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,

²because of the truth which remains 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.

Truth and Love from the Father to Hɪꜱ Children

⁴I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.

⁵Now I beg you, dear lady, not as if I were writing a new commandment, but one which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

⁶This is love: that we walk according to ʜɪꜱ commandments. This is the commandment, just as y’all heard from the beginning: that y’all walk in love.

Warning Against Christological Heresies

⁷For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antiChrist.

⁸Y’all watch out so that y’all don’t lose what we have worked for, but that y’all receive a full reward.

⁹Whoever goes on ahead and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ doesn’t have God. Whoever remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

¹⁰If anyone comes to y’all and doesn’t bring this teaching, y’all must not receive them into your* house or welcome them,

¹¹for anyone who welcomes them participates in their evil deeds.

¹²Though I have many things to write to y’all, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to y’all and speak face to face so that our joy may be made complete.

¹³The children of your chosen sister greet you.