1 作長老的寫信給蒙揀選的太太、〔太太或作教會下同〕和他的兒女、就是我誠心所愛的．不但我愛、也是一切知道真理之人所愛的．
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 愛你們是為真理的緣故、這真理存在我們裡面、也必永遠與我們同在．
because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: |
3 恩惠、憐憫、平安、從父 神和他兒子耶穌基督、在真理和愛心上、必常與我們同在。
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 我見你的兒女、有照我們從父所受之命令遵行真理的、就甚歡喜。
It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. |
5 太太阿、我現在勸你、我們大家要彼此相愛．這並不是我寫一條新命令給你、乃是我們從起初所受的命令。
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 我們若照他的命令行、這就是愛。你們從起初所聽見當行的、就是這命令。
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 因為世上有許多迷惑人的出來、他們不認耶穌基督是成了肉身來的．這就是那迷惑人、敵基督的。
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 你們要小心、不要失去你們〔有古卷作我們〕所作的工、乃要得著滿足的賞賜。
Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. |
9 凡越過基督的教訓、不常守著的、就沒有 神．常守這教訓的、就有父又有子。
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 若有人到你們那裡、不是傳這教訓、不要接他到家裡、也不要問他的安．
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. |
11 因為問他安的、就在他的惡行上有分。
Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. |
12 我還有許多事要寫給你們、卻不願意用紙墨寫出來．但盼望到你們那裡、與你們當面談論、使你們的喜樂滿足。
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 你那蒙揀選之姊妹的兒女都問你安。
The children of your chosen sister send their greetings. |
