2 John 1
1 The 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,
This letter comes from the elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth. Not just from me, but from everyone who knows the truth,
because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. (aiōn g165)
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
May grace, mercy and peace continue to be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and in love.
4 I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
I was delighted to discover that some of your children are following the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
5 Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
Now I'm telling you, dear lady, not as a new instruction, but following what we've understood from the beginning, that we should love one another.
6 This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
This is what love is: we should follow God's commands. The command, just as you heard right from the beginning, is that you should live in love.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
I'm telling you this because many deceivers have left and gone out into the world. They don't accept that Jesus Christ has come as a human being. Anyone like this is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.
Be careful that you don't lose what we've worked so hard for, and that you receive all that you should.
9 Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
All those who become extremists and don't continue to follow the teaching of Christ don't have God with them. Those who continue to follow the teaching of Christ have both the Father and the Son with them.
10 If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,
If people come to you and don't show evidence of Christ's teaching, don't take them in, don't welcome them—
11 for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
for if you encourage them you share in their evil work.
12 Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
I have so many things to tell you that I won't write any more with paper and ink, for I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face. How happy that would make us!
13 The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.
Greetings to you from the children of your chosen sister.
