1The apostle testifieth his regard and good wishes for a certain pious matron and her children, and his joy in their good behaviour: 5he exhorteth them to persevere in Christian love and belief, that they lose not their full reward: 10and to have nothing to do with those seducers that bring not the true doctrine of Christ. 12He hopeth to see them shortly, and concludeth with salutations.
1THE aelder unto the belect lady and her children, whom cI love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known dthe truth;
a 1Pe. 5.1. Ac. 11.30. b Ac. 13.48. Ep. 1.4,5. v.13. c 1Jn. 3.18. Mat. 22.39. Ga. 2.5,14. Ep. 1.13. 2Th. 2.13. 1Ti. 2.4. Ja. 1.18. 1Pe. 1.22. d Jn. 1.17; 14.6.
2eFor the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
e Phi. 1.6. 1Jn. 2.14,23. Col. 3.16. Jn. 15.7.
3fGrace 1be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, gin truth and love.
1Gr. shall be.
f Ro. 1.7. 1Ti. 1.2. Re. 1.4. g Zec. 8.19. Ga. 5.6.
4hI rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
h Phi. 4.1. 1Th. 2.19. 3Jn. 3,4.
5And now I beseech thee, lady, inot as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
i Jn. 13.34; 15.11,12. Ep. 5.2. 1Pe. 4.8. 1Th. 4.9. 1Jn. 2.7,8; 3.11,23; 4.21.
6jAnd this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
j Jn. 14.15,21; 15.10,14. Ro. 13.8,9. Ga. 5.14. 1Jn. 5.3; 2.5,24.
7kFor many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
k Mat. 24.5,24. 2Pe. 2.1. 1Jn. 2.18,22; 4.1-3. 2Th. 2.7,11.
8lLook to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have 2wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Or, gained. Some copies read, which ye have gained, but that ye receive.
l Mar. 13.9. Ga. 3.4. He. 10.32,35. Mat. 13.21. 1Ti. 1.19. 1Co. 15.58. Phi. 2.16. Re. 3.11. Ps. 19.11.
9mWhosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
m Jn. 15.6. Is. 8.20. 1Pe. 2.2. Col. 3.16. 1Jn. 2.23,24.
10nIf there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
n Ro. 16.17. Ga. 1.8,9. Pr. 4.14,15. Tit. 3.10. v.8. 2Ti. 3.5,6; 4.14. 1Co. 16.22.
11For he that biddeth him God speed is opartaker of his evil deeds.
o 1Ti. 5.22. Ep. 5.11. Pr. 1.10-19.
12pHaving many things to write unto you, I would not write with *paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak 3face to face, that q4our joy may be full.
*paper-papyrus.
3Gr. mouth to mouth.
4Or, your.
p 3Jn. 13. Ro. 1.10-12. Jn. 16.12. q Jn. 15.11; 17.13. 1Jn. 1.4. 2Ti. 1.4.
13The children of thy relect sister greet thee. Amen.
r v.1. Ro. 8.30. 1Pe. 1.2. 2Th. 2.13. Ep. 1.4. Ro. 11.7.