| King James Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1The 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; | 1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth— |
| 2For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. | 2because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. |
| 3Grace 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. | 3Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. Live in the Truth |
| 4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. | 4How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. |
| 5And 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. | 5I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. |
| 6And 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. | 6Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. |
| 7For 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. | 7I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. |
| 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. | 8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. |
| 9Whosoever 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. | 9Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. |
| 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: | 10If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. |
| 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. | 11Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work. Conclusion |
| 12Having 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. | 12I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete. |
| 13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. | 13Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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