Chapter 1

  The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;  

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  for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:  

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  Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.  

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  I rejoice greatly that I have found [certain] of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.  

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  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.  

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  And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.  

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  For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.  

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  Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.  

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  Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.  

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  If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into [your] house, and give him no greeting:  

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  for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.  

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  Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write them] with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.  

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  The children of thine elect sister salute thee.  

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