Chapter 1
A Greeting from the Elder
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The elder, To [the] chosen lady and her children, whom I love in [the] truth— and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—
Ὁ πρεσβύτερος Ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ αὐτῆς τοῖς τέκνοις οὓς ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνος ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τὴν ἀλήθειαν Ho presbyteros Eklektē kyria kai autēs tois teknois hous egō agapō en alētheia kai ouk egō monos alla kai pantes hoi egnōkotes tēn alētheian — NA/TR · 1
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because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us vvv vvv forever:
διὰ τὴν ἀλήθειαν τὴν μένουσαν ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ ἔσται μεθ’ ἡμῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα dia tēn alētheian tēn menousan en hēmin kai estai meth’ hēmōn eis ton aiōna — NA/TR · 2
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Grace, mercy, [and] peace from God [the] Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.
χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη παρὰ Θεοῦ Πατρός καὶ παρὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Πατρός Ἔσται μεθ’ ἡμῶν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγάπῃ charis eleos eirēnē para Theou Patros kai para Iēsou Christou tou Huiou tou Patros Estai meth’ hēmōn en alētheia kai agapē — NA/TR · 3
Walking in the Truth
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I was overjoyed… to find [some] of your children walking in [the] truth, just as the Father has commanded [us].
Ἐχάρην λίαν ὅτι εὕρηκα ἐκ σου τῶν τέκνων περιπατοῦντας ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καθὼς παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός ἐντολὴν ἐλάβομεν Echarēn lian hoti heurēka ek sou tōn teknōn peripatountas en alētheia kathōs para tou Patros entolēn elabomen — NA/TR · 4
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And now I urge you, [dear] lady— not as a new commandment to you, but [one] we have had from [the] beginning— that we love one another.
καὶ νῦν ἐρωτῶ σε κυρία οὐχ ὡς καινὴν ἐντολὴν γράφων σοι ἀλλὰ ἣν εἴχομεν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους kai nyn erōtō se kyria ouch hōs kainēn entolēn graphōn soi alla hēn eichomen ap’ archēs hina agapōmen allēlous — NA/TR · 5
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And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from [the] beginning, that you must walk in [love].
καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη ἵνα περιπατῶμεν κατὰ αὐτοῦ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὕτη ἐστιν ἡ καθὼς ἐντολή ἠκούσατε ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς ἵνα περιπατῆτε ἐν αὐτῇ kai hautē estin hē agapē hina peripatōmen kata autou tas entolas hautē estin hē kathōs entolē ēkousate ap’ archēs hina peripatēte en autē — NA/TR · 6
Beware of Deceivers
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For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in [the] flesh. Any such [ person ] is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Ὅτι πολλοὶ πλάνοι ἐξῆλθον εἰς τὸν κόσμον οἱ μὴ ὁμολογοῦντες ἐρχόμενον Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐν σαρκί οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ πλάνος καὶ ὁ ἀντίχριστος Hoti polloi planoi exēlthon eis ton kosmon hoi mē homologountes erchomenon Iēsoun Christon en sarki houtos estin ho planos kai ho antichristos — NA/TR · 7
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Watch yourselves, so that vvv you do not lose what we have worked for, but [that] you may be fully rewarded…
βλέπετε ἑαυτούς ἵνα μὴ ἀπολέσητε ἃ εἰργασάμεθα ἀλλὰ ἀπολάβητε πλήρη μισθὸν blepete heautous hina mē apolesēte ha eirgasametha alla apolabēte plērē misthon — NA/TR · 8
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Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ vvv does not have God. Whoever remains in [His] teaching has both the Father and the Son.
πᾶς ὁ προάγων καὶ μὴ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ οὐκ ἔχει Θεὸν ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ οὗτος ἔχει καὶ τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν pas ho proagōn kai mē menōn en tē didachē tou Christou ouk echei Theon ho menōn en tē didachē houtos echei kai ton Patera kai ton Huion — NA/TR · 9
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If anyone comes to you [but] vvv does not bring this teaching, {do} not receive him into [your] home [or] even greet… him.
Εἴ τις ἔρχεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐ φέρει ταύτην τὴν διδαχὴν μὴ λαμβάνετε αὐτὸν εἰς οἰκίαν μὴ καὶ λέγετε χαίρειν αὐτῷ Ei tis erchetai pros hymas kai ou pherei tautēn tēn didachēn mē lambanete auton eis oikian mē kai legete chairein autō — NA/TR · 10
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- Whoever greets… [such a person] shares in his evil deeds.
γὰρ ὁ λέγων χαίρειν αὐτῷ κοινωνεῖ τοῖς αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς ἔργοις gar ho legōn chairein autō koinōnei tois autou tois ponērois ergois — NA/TR · 11
Conclusion
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I have many things to write to you, [but] I would prefer not [to do so] with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you [face] to [face], so that our joy may be complete.
ἔχων Πολλὰ γράφειν ὑμῖν ἐβουλήθην οὐκ διὰ χάρτου καὶ μέλανος ἀλλὰ ἐλπίζω γενέσθαι καὶ λαλῆσαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς στόμα πρὸς στόμα ἵνα ἡμῶν ἡ χαρὰ ᾖ πεπληρωμένη echōn Polla graphein hymin eboulēthēn ouk dia chartou kai melanos alla elpizō genesthai kai lalēsai pros hymas stoma pros stoma hina hēmōn hē chara ē peplērōmenē — NA/TR · 12
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The children of your elect sister send you greetings…
τὰ τέκνα σου τῆς ἐκλεκτῆς τῆς ἀδελφῆς Ἀσπάζεταί σε ta tekna sou tēs eklektēs tēs adelphēs Aspazetai se — NA/TR · 13