1The 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; 2For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5And 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. 6And 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. 7For 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. 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whosoever 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. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
12Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
Salamu
11:1 Mdo 11:30; 3Yn 1; Rum 16:13; 1Pet 5:13; Yn 8:32; 1Tim 2:4Mzee:
Kwa bibi mteule na watoto wake, niwapendao katika kweli, wala si mimi tu, bali na wale wote waijuayo kweli: 21:2 2Pet 1:12; Yn 14:17; 1Yn 1:8kwa sababu ya ile kweli ikaayo ndani yetu na ambayo itaendelea kukaa nasi milele:
31:3 Rum 1:7; 1Tim 1:2; 2Yn 1; 1:4; 3Yn 3, 4Neema, rehema na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba na kwa Yesu Kristo, Mwanawe Baba, itakuwa pamoja nasi katika kweli na upendo.
Kweli Na Upendo
4Imenipa furaha kuu kuona baadhi ya watoto wako wanaenenda katika kweli, kama vile Baba alivyotuagiza. 51:5 1Yn 2:7; 3:11Sasa, bibi mpendwa, si kwamba ninakuandikia amri mpya, bali ile tuliyokuwa nayo tangu mwanzo. Tupendane kila mmoja na mwenzake. 61:6 1Yn 2:5; Yn 14:15; 1Yn 2:7Hili ndilo pendo, kwamba tuenende sawasawa na amri zake. Hii ndiyo amri yake kama vile mlivyosikia tangu mwanzo, kwamba mwenende katika upendo.
71:7 1Yn 2:22; 4:2, 3; 4:1; 2:18Wadanganyifu wengi, wasiokubali kwamba Yesu Kristo amekuja katika mwili, wametokea ulimwenguni. Mtu wa namna hiyo ni mdanganyifu na mpinga Kristo. 81:8 Mt 10:42; Ebr 11:26Jihadharini msije mkapoteza kile mlichokitenda, bali mpate kupewa thawabu kamilifu. 91:9 1Yn 2:23; Yn 8:31Mtu yeyote asiyedumu katika mafundisho ya Kristo, bali akayaacha, yeye hana Mungu. Yeyote anayedumu katika mafundisho ana Baba na Mwana pia. 101:10 Rum 16:17; 2The 3:6; 1Fal 13:17; 3Yn 8Msimpokee mtu yeyote anayewajia ambaye hawaletei mafundisho haya, wala msimkaribishe nyumbani mwenu. 111:11 1Tim 5:22Yeyote amkaribishaye mtu wa namna hiyo anashiriki katika matendo maovu ya mtu huyo.
Salamu Za Mwisho
121:12 3Yn 13, 14; Yn 17:13; 1Yn 1:4Ninayo mengi ya kuwaandikia, lakini sitaki kutumia karatasi na wino. Badala yake, nataraji kuja kwenu na kuongea nanyi ana kwa ana, ili furaha yetu ipate kuwa timilifu.
131:13 1Pet 5:13; 2Yn 1Watoto wa dada yako mteule wanakusalimu. Amen.
