[1] Greetings from the Elder. To the lady chosen by God and to her children: I love all of you in the truth. Also, all those people who know the truth love you.
[2] We love you because of the truth—the truth that lives in us. That truth will be with us forever.
[3] Grace ˻(kindness)˼, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from his Son, Jesus Christ. We receive these blessings through truth and love.
[4] I was very happy to learn about some of your children. I am happy that they are following the way of truth, like the Father ˻(God)˼ commanded us.
[5] And now, dear lady, I tell you: We should all love each other. This is not a new command. It is the same command we had from the beginning.
[6] And loving means living the way he commanded us to live. And God’s command is this: that you live a life of love. You heard this command from the beginning.
[7] Many false teachers are in the world now. These false teachers refuse to confess ˻(say)˼ that Jesus Christ came to earth and became a man. A person who refuses to confess this fact is a false teacher and an enemy of Christ.
[8] Be careful! Don’t lose the reward that you have worked for. Be careful, so that you will receive all of your reward.
[9] A person must continue to follow only the teaching about Christ. If a person changes that teaching, then that person does not have God. But if a person continues following the teaching of Christ, then that person has both the Father ˻(God)˼ and the Son ˻(Christ)˼.
[10] If a person comes to you, but does not bring this teaching, then don’t accept him into your house. Don’t welcome him.
[11] If you accept him, then you are helping him with his evil work.
[12] I have much to say to you. But I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come visit you. Then we can be together and talk. That will make us very happy.
[13] The children of your sister who was chosen by God send you their love.