OEBcth - II John

Chapter 1

1:1  To an eminent Christian Lady, and to her children, from the officer of the church. I sincerely love you all, and not I only, but also all those who have learned to know the truth.

1:2  We love you for the sake of that truth which is always in our hearts; yes, and it will be ours for ever.

1:3  Blessing, mercy, and peace will be ours — the gift of God, the Father, and of Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son — in a life of truth and love.

1:4  It was a great joy to me to find the lives of some of your children guided by the truth, in obedience to the command that we received from the Father.

1:5  And now, I pray you, Lady — not as though I were writing a new command for you; no, it is the command which we had from the first — Let us love one another.

1:6  And this is love — to live in obedience to the Father’s commands. This is the command as you learned from the first, to live in a spirit of love.

1:7  I say this because many impostors have left us to go into the world — people who do not acknowledge Jesus as Christ come in our human nature. It is that which marks someone as an impostor and an antichrist.

1:8  Take care that you do not lose the fruit of all our work; rather, reap the benefit of it in full.

1:9  Everyone who goes beyond the limits of the teaching of the Christ has failed to find God; the person who keeps to that teaching — they have found both the Father and the Son.

1:10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive them into your house or welcome them;

1:11  for the person who welcomes them is sharing with them in his wicked work.

1:12  Though I have a great deal to say to you, I would rather not trust it to paper and ink, but I am hoping to come and see you, and to speak with you face to face, so that your joy may be complete.

1:13  The children of your eminent sister send you their greetings.