| 1 ¶ The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
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| 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
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| 3 Grace be1 with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
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| 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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| 5 ¶ And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
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| 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
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| 7 ¶ For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
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| 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought,2 but that we receive a full reward.
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| 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
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| 10 ¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
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| 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
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| 12 ¶ Having many things to3 write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our4 joy may be full.
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| 13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
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