2 John 1
1 I, a ruler in the church, send word to the noble sister who is of God's selection, and to her children, for whom I have true love; and not only I, but all who have knowledge of what is true;
The Elder to the elect lady and her children. Truly I love you all, and not I alone, but also all who know the truth,
for the sake of the truth which is continually in our hearts and will be with us for ever. (aiōn g165)
3 May grace, mercy, and peace be with us from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in all true love.
Grace, mercy and peace will be with us from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 It gave me great joy to see some of your children walking in the true way, even as we were ordered to do by the Father.
It is an intense joy to me to have found some of your children living true Christian lives, in obedience to the command which we have received from the Father.
5 And now, my sister, I make a request to you, not sending you a new law, but the law which we had from the first, that we have love for one another.
And now, dear lady, I pray you--writing to you, as I do, not a new command, but the one which we have had from the very beginning--let us love one another.
6 And love is the keeping of his laws. This is the law which was given to you from the first, so that you might keep it.
The love of which I am speaking consists in our living in obedience to God's commands. God's command is that you should live in obedience to what you all heard from the very beginning.
7 Because a number of false teachers have gone out into the world, who do not give witness that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Such a one is a false teacher and Antichrist.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world--men who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ who has come in human nature. Such a one is 'the deceiver' and 'the anti-Christ.'
8 Keep watch over yourselves, so that you do not make our work of no effect, but may get your full reward.
Keep guard over yourselves, so that you may not lose the results of your good deeds, but may receive back a full reward.
9 Anyone who goes on and does not keep to the teaching of Christ, has not God: he who keeps to the teaching has the Father and the Son.
No one has God, who instead of remaining true to the teaching of Christ, presses on in advance: but he who remains true to that teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you not having this teaching, do not take him into your house or give him words of love:
If any one who comes to you does not bring this teaching, do not receive him under your roof nor bid him Farewell.
11 For he who gives him words of love has a part in his evil works.
He who bids him Farewell is a sharer in his evil deeds.
12 Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be full.
I have a great deal to say to you all, but will not write it with paper and ink. Yet I hope to come to see you and speak face to face, so that your happiness may be complete.
13 The children of your noble sister, who is of God's selection, send you their love.
The children of your elect sister send greetings to you.
