| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, | 1The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth--and not I only, but also all who know the truth-- |
| 2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: | 2because of the truth, which lives 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 Father’s Son, in truth and love. | 3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. |
| 4I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. | 4It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. |
| 5And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. | 5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. |
| 6And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. | 6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. |
| 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. | 7I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. |
| 8Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. | 8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. |
| 9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. | 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. |
| 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, | 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. |
| 11for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. | 11Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. |
| 12Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. | 12I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. |
| 13The children of your elect sister greet you. | 13The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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