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The
elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the
truth--and not I only, but also all who know the truth-- {2}
because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
{3} Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus
Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. {4}
It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the
truth, just as the Father commanded us. {5} And now, dear lady, I
am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning.
I ask that we love one another. {6} And this is love: that we
walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning,
his command is that you walk in love. {7} Many deceivers, who do
not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into
the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. {8}
Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that
you may be rewarded fully. {9} Anyone who runs ahead and does not
continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues
in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. {10} If anyone
comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your
house or welcome him. {11} Anyone who welcomes him shares in his
wicked work. {12} I have much to write to you, but I do not want
to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you
face to face, so that our joy may be complete. {13} The children
of your chosen sister send their greetings. |
