'The1elder2to the elect3lady4and5her8children,7whom9I10love11in12truth,13and14not15only17I,16but18also19all20who know22the23truth,24 because of1the2truth3that abides5in6us7and8will be11with9us10forever:1214 Grace,4mercy,5andpeace6will be1with2us,3from7God8the Father9and10from11Jesus12Christ13the14Father’s17Son,15in18truth19and20love.21 I rejoiced1greatly2to find34some9of5your8children7walking9in10the truth,11just as12we were commanded1314by15the16Father.17 And1now2I ask3you,4[dear] lady5— not6as though7I were writing10you11a new9commandment,8but12the one13we have had14from15the beginning —16that17we love18one another.19 And1this2is3love,5that6we walk7according to8his11commandments;10this12is15the13commandment,14just as16you have heard17from18the beginning,19so that20you should walk23in21it.22 For1many2deceivers3have gone out4into5the6world,7those8who10donot9confess10the coming of13Jesus11Christ12in14the flesh.15Such a one16is17the18deceiver19and20the21antichrist.22 Watch1yourselves,2so that3you may5not4lose5what6we have worked for,7but8may win11a full10reward.9 Everyone12who goes on ahead3and4doesnot5abide6in7the8teaching9of Christ,11doesnot13have14God.12Whoever abides1516in17the18teaching19has27both21the22Father23and24the25Son.26 If1anyone2comes3to4you5and6doesnot10bring11this7teaching,9donot12receive13him14into15yourhouse16or17give21him19anygreeting,18 for3whoever greets125him4takes part in6his9wicked11 works.8 ThoughI have2much1to write4to you,3I would6rathernot5use7paper8and9ink.10Instead11I hope12to come13to14you15and16talk20face17to18face,19so that21our24joy23may be26complete.25 The3children4of9your7elect9sister6greet1you.2