2Jo | HCSB | STEP |

2 John

Greeting

1 The Elder: ^{▼▼Or Presbyter}To the elect ^b lady ^{▼▼Or Kyria, a proper name; probably a literary figure for a local church known to John; the children would be its members.} and her children: I love all of you in the truth – and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth ^d – 2 because of the truth that remains in us ^e and will be with us forever.

3 Grace, mercy, and peace ^f will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son ^g of the Father, in truth and love. ^h

Truth and Deception

4 I was very glad to find some of your children ^{▼▼walk: A term often used in a figurative way to mean "way of life" or "behavior"}walking in the truth, ^j in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. 5 So now I urge you, dear lady – not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning – that we love one another. ^k 6 And this is love: ^l that we walk according to His commands. ^m This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love. ^{▼▼Lit in it}

7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. ^{▼▼Or confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh
,} ^p This is the deceiver and the antichrist. ^q 8 Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we ^{▼▼Other mss read you} have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. ^s 9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching ^t but goes beyond it, does not have God. ^u The one who remains ^v in that teaching, this one has both the Father ^w and the Son. ^x 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive ^y him into your home, and don’t say, “Welcome,” to him; 11 for the one who says, “Welcome,” to him shares ^z in his evil works. ^aa

Farewell

12 Though I have many things to write to you, ^ab I don’t want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face ^{▼▼Lit mouth to mouth} so that our joy ^ad may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.