| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, | 1The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth— |
| 2because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: | 2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: |
| 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. | 3Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love. |
| 4I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. | 4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us. |
| 5And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. | 5And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. |
| 6This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. | 6And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love. |
| 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. | 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. |
| 8Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. | 8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded. |
| 9Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. | 9Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son. |
| 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; | 10If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. |
| 11for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. | 11Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds. |
| 12Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. | 12I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. |
| 13The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen. | 13The children of your elect sister send you greetings. |
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