2 John

¹The 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;²for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever: ³Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

⁴I rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father. ⁵And 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. ⁶And 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. ⁷For 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. ⁸Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. ⁹Whosoever 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. ¹⁰If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: ¹¹for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.

¹²Having 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. ¹³The children of thine elect sister salute thee.

3 John

¹The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. ²Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ³For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth. ⁴Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

⁵Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal; ⁶who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God: ⁷because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. ⁸We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.

⁹I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. ¹⁰Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth and casteth them out of the church. ¹¹Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God. ¹²Demetrius hath the witness of all men , and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness: and thou knowest that our witness is true.

¹³I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen: ¹⁴but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.