| Chapter 1 |
1 |
The Elder to the elect lady and her children. Truly I love you all, and not I alone, but also all who know the truth, --
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2 |
for the sake of the truth which is continually in our hearts and will be with us for ever. --
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3 |
Grace, mercy and peace will 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 |
It is an intense joy to me to have found some of your children living true Christian lives, in obedience to the command which we have received from the Father. --
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5 |
And now, dear lady, I pray you--writing to you, as I do, not a new command, but the one which we have had from the very beginning--let us love one another. --
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6 |
The love of which I am speaking consists in our living in obedience to God's commands. God's command is that you should live in obedience to what you all heard from the very beginning. --
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7 |
For many deceivers have gone out into the world--men who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ who has come in human nature. Such a one is 'the deceiver' and 'the anti-Christ.' --
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8 |
Keep guard over yourselves, so that you may not lose the results of your good deeds, but may receive back a full reward. --
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9 |
No one has God, who instead of remaining true to the teaching of Christ, presses on in advance: but he who remains true to that teaching has both the Father and the Son. --
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10 |
If any one who comes to you does not bring this teaching, do not receive him under your roof nor bid him Farewell. --
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11 |
He who bids him Farewell is a sharer in his evil deeds. --
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12 |
I have a great deal to say to you all, but will not write it with paper and ink. Yet I hope to come to see you and speak face to face, so that your happiness may be complete. --
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13 |
The children of your elect sister send greetings to you. --
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