| The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
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| 2. | For the truth's sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us forever.
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| 3. | Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
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| 4. | I rejoiced greatly that I found some of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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| 5. | And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
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| 6. | And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, that, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
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| 7. | For many deceivers have entered into the world, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
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| 8. | Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
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| 9. | Whoever transgresses, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son.
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| 10. | If there are any who come to you and do not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, neither bid him God speed.
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| 11. | For he that bids him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds.
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| 12. | Having many things to write to you, I would not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
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| 13. | The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
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