1 From the elder, to the chosen {eklekte: specially chosen} lady and her children: I love you in truth {aletheia: God-formed reality}, and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth.
2 This is for the sake of the truth {aletheia: God-aligned reality}—the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever {aion: unending age}.
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father {Theos Pater, Source Of Blessing} and from Jesus Christ {Iesous Christos, Giver Of Peace}, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I greatly rejoiced to find that some of your children were living in the truth {alētheía: reliable reality}, just as we had received a commandment from the Father {pater, Faithful Command Giver}.
5 And now I ask you, lady {kyria: respectful noble title}—not as if I were giving you a new commandment, but the one we had from the beginning—that we may love one another {agapomen: practice selfless affection}.
6 And this is love {agape: covenantal devotion}: that we walk in keeping with His {Theos, Guiding Lawgiver} commandments. This is the commandment—just as you heard from the beginning—that you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world—those who do not confess that Jesus Christ {Iesous Christos, True Incarnate Messiah} has come in the flesh. This one is the deceiver and the antichrist {antichristos: chief opposing deceiver}.
8 Watch yourselves {heautous: your own lives}, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward {misthon: promised recompense}.
9 Everyone who pushes ahead {proagon: advancing beyond boundary} and fails to abide in the teaching {didachē: apostolic instruction} of Christ {Christos, Authoritative Teacher} lacks God {Theos, Withheld Fellowship}. The one who abides in the teaching has both the Father {Pater, Covenant Father} and the Son {Huios, Revealed Son}.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching {didache: apostolic instruction}, do not receive him into your house {oikia: domestic sphere}, and do not say to him a greeting.
11 For the one who says to him, “Greetings,” shares {koinonei: participates fully} in his evil works {ergon: harmful deeds}.
12 Although I have many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so by means of paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and speak mouth {stoma: direct personal meeting} to mouth, so that our joy {chara: overflowing gladness} may be complete.
13 The children {tekna: family descendants} of your elect {eklektes: specially chosen} sister greet you.