| Chapter 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;
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2 |
for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:
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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.
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4 |
I rejoice greatly that I have found [certain] of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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8 |
Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.
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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.
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10 |
If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into [your] house, and give him no greeting:
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11 |
for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.
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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.
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13 |
The children of thine elect sister salute thee.
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