2 John 1
1-2 My dear congregation, I, your pastor, love you in very truth. And I'm not alone—everyone who knows the Truth that has taken up permanent residence in us loves you.
3 Let grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son of the Father!
4-6 I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.
Don't Walk Out on God
7 There are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!
8-9 And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.
10-11 If anyone shows up who doesn't hold to this teaching, don't invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.
12-13 I have a lot more things to tell you, but I'd rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.
2 John 1
Introduction and Thanksgiving
1 Fromt the elder,ts to an elect ladyts and her children, whom I love in trutht (and not I alone, but also all thoses who know the truth),2 because of the truthss that resides in us and will be with us forever.
3 Grace, mercy, andt peace will be with us from God the Father and froms Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly because I have found somet of your children living according to the truth,s just as the Father commanded us.t
Warning Against False Teachers
5 But nowt I ask you, lady (not as if I weret writing a new commandments to you, but the onet we have had from the beginning),s thatt we love one another.6 (Now this is love: that we walkt according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thust you should walk in it.t7 Fort many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus ast Christt coming in the flesh.t This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!s
8 Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for,s but receive a full reward.s
9 Everyonet who goes on ahead and does not remaint in the teaching of Christt does not have God.s The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son.10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting,s
11 because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.s
Conclusion
12 Though I have many othert things to write to you, I do not want to do so witht paper and ink,s but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face,t so that our joy may be complete.t
13 The children of your elect sister greet you.s