1:1 I, a ruler in the church, send word to the noble sister
who
is
of God's selection, and to her children, for whom I have
true
love; and not only I, but all who have knowledge of what
is
true;
1:2 Because of this true knowledge which is in us, and will
be
with
us for ever:
1:3 May grace, mercy, and peace be with us from God the
Father,
and
from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in all true love.
1:4 It gave me great joy to see
some of your children walking in
the
true way, even as we were ordered to do by the Father.
1:5 And now, my sister, I make a
request to you, not sending you
a
new law, but the law which we had from the first, that we
have
love for one another.
1:6 And love is the keeping of his
laws. This is the law which
was
given to you from the first, so that you might keep it.
1:7 Because a number of false
teachers have gone out into the
world,
who do not give witness that Jesus Christ came in the
flesh.
Such a one is a false teacher and Antichrist.
1:8 Keep watch over yourselves, so that you do not make our
work
of
no effect, but may get your full reward.
1:9 Anyone who goes on and does not keep to the teaching of
Christ,
has not God: he who keeps to the teaching has the
Father
and the Son.
1:10 If anyone comes to you not
having this teaching, do not
take
him into your house or give him words of love:
1:11 For he who gives him words of
love has a part in his evil
works.
1:12 Having much to say to you, it
is not my purpose to put it
all
down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you,
and
to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be
full.
1:13 The children of your noble
sister, who is of God's
selection, send you their love.