2 John
1 This
letter is from John, the elder.
I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love
in THE TRUTH—as
does everyone else who knows THE TRUTH —
2 because THE TRUTH lives in us
and will be with us forever.
3 GRACE, MERCY, and PEACE, which
come from
GOD THE FATHER and from JESUS CHRIST—THE SON OF THE FATHER—
will continue to be with us who live in TRUTH and LOVE.
Live in the Truth
4 How
happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to THE TRUTH, just as THE
FATHER commanded.
5 I am
writing to remind you, dear friends,[c] that we should LOVE one another.
This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.
6 LOVE means doing what GOD has commanded us,
and HE has commanded us to LOVE one another, just as you heard from the beginning.
7 I say this
because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that JESUS CHRIST came in real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an
antichrist.
8 Watch
out that you do not lose what wehave worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so
that you receive your full reward.
9 Anyone
who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with GOD. But anyone who
remains in the teaching of CHRIST has a relationship with both THE FATHER and THE SON.
10 If
anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach THE TRUTH about CHRIST, don’t invite
that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement.
11 Anyone
who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.
Conclusion
12 I have
much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I
hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then OUR JOY will be
complete.
13 Greetings from the
children of your sister, chosen by GOD.”
