[1:1] The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;
[1:2] for the truth’s sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:
[1:3] Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
[1:4] I rejoice greatly that I have found `certain’ of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
[1:5] And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
[1:6] And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.
[1:7] For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, `even’ they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
[1:8] Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.
[1:9] Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
[1:10] If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into `your’ house, and give him no greeting:
[1:11] for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.
[1:12] Having many things to write unto you, I would not `write them’ with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
[1:13] The children of thine elect sister salute thee.