the 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
for the truths sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever
grace 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
i rejoiced greatly that i found of thy children walking in truth as we have received a commandment from the father
and 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
and 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
for 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
look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward
whosoever 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
if there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him god speed
for he that biddeth him god speed is partaker of his evil deeds
having 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
the children of thy elect sister greet thee amen