1The elder,
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
4It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5And 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. 6And 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.
7I say this because 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. 8Watch out that you do not lose what we1:8 Some manuscripts you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone 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. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
12I 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.
13The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
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.
