Chapter 1

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;

²  For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

³  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. {be: Gr. shall be}

⁴  I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

⁵  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.

⁶  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.

⁷  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.

⁸  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. {wrought: or, gained, some copies read, ye have gained, but that ye, etc.}

⁹  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.

¹⁰  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into {your} house, neither bid him God speed:

¹¹  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

¹²  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. {face to...: Gr. mouth to mouth} {our: or, your}

¹³  The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.