1 THE 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;
2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3 Grace 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.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
5 And 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.
6 And 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.

EXHORTATION TO FAITHFULNESS
7 For 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.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever 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.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
12 Having 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.
13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

1The Elder vnto the elect Lady, and her children, whome I loue in the trueth: and not I onely, but also all they that haue knowen þe trueth:

2For the trueths sake which dwelleth in vs, and shalbe with vs for euer:

3Grace bee with you, mercie, and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ, the Sonne of the Father in trueth and loue.

4I reioyced greatly, that I found of thy children walking in trueth, as wee haue receiued a commaundement from the Father.

5And now, I beseech thee Lady, not as though I wrote a new commandement vnto thee: but that which wee had from the beginning, that wee loue one another.

6And this is loue, that wee walke after his Commandements. This is the Commandement, that as yee haue heard from the beginning, yee should walke in it.

7For many deceiuers are entred into the world, who confesse not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiuer, and an Antichrist.

8Looke to your selues, that wee lose not those things which wee haue wrought, but that we receiue a full reward.

9Whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God: hee that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Sonne.

10If there come any vnto you, and bring not this doctrine, receiue him not into your house, neither bid him, God speed.

11For hee that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his euill deeds.

12Hauing many things to write vnto you, I would not write with paper and inke, but I trust to come vnto you, and speake face to face, that our ioy may be full.

13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

I == John 8:32 ; 1st John 3:18

 

 

 

III == 1st Tim 1:2 ; 2nd John 1:1

 

 

IV == 3rd John 1:3

 

 

V == John 13:34 ; 15:12

 

 

VI John 14:15, 21 ; 15:10

 

 

 

 

VII == 1st John 2:22 ; 4:1-3

 

 

VIII == Mark 13:9 ; Gal 3:4

 

 

IX 1st John 2:23

 

 

X == Rom 16:17 ; 1st Cor 5:11 ; 16:22 ; Gal 1:8-9 ; 2nd Tim 3:5 ; Titus 3:10

 

XII == John 17:13 ; 1st John 1:4 ; 3rd JOhn 1:13

 

XIII == 1st Pet 5:13

 

 

1. The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2. for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3. Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4. I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. 5. Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. 7. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8. Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11. for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 12. Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full. 13. The children of your chosen sister greet you.

v 1,2. This is much disputed, but could have been written to a  specific lady who was involved in Christian work. As such, this personal letter in a sense becomes a letter to the church in which she serves. Or it could have been directly to a church. In calling himself “elder” he is establishing a familiar type relationship, not a church office. The children might refer to her own, or the church or both, see verse 13. John emphasizes the truth which is in us permanently.

v 3. A very usual but sincere greeting.

v 4. Many young people were coming to Ephesus for school or business, and many fell into the ways of the world. It would be a joy to this lady (or church) that her children were continuing faithful.

v 5,6. This was not something new to love one another. Schofield points out that Moses law demands love but Christ’s law is love, fulfilling O.T. law, and is the “law written in our heart”, Rom. 2:15. Love makes us want to obey God’s commands properly, and balances walking in truth.

v 7. Love has been stressed in contrast to  heresy which is rampant. There were those who denied Christ had physically come. KJV says “an antichrist”, but many versions say “the Antichrist”. Today some claim to be Christ. Some current cults have been deadly. Many followers of “”Moon” committed suicide or were killed for their leader. The Branch Davidian complex where the leader was mating with several of his female followers ended up in many deaths at Waco. Another cult leader told the followers the world was coming to an end at Y2K and had them turn over all their possessions. When nothing happened, many wanted their possessions back. This lead to the death of nearly a thousand followers by murder and some suicides.

v 8. John didn’t want the heretics to cause the lady (or church) to whom he was writing to lose her full reward, after laboring so diligently.

v 9. In examining any religion, a basic test is what they teach concerning Christ.

v 10,11. It is quite proper for a well grounded Christian to witness to the various cults that come to their door. Most, however, are not equipped to refute the well learned arguments of the cultists, and if they do, that one ignores it, goes on, and eventually comes right back to the same arguments. In such cases, to invite them into your home “for a Bible study” only encourages them to keep after you. Untrained believers can easily be swept away by their logic. Such encouragement or wishing them success in what they are doing makes one a partaker with them. To continue to participate in a modernistic denomination would also be in this category. I have heard fundamental pastors who have no part in modernism, call the unsaved modernist preacher “brother”. This is probably only force of habit, but wrong.

v 12. With the anticipation of seeing her soon, John chose to delay further comments or teaching till he saw her (or the church).

v 13. While not conclusive, the wording of this verse would seem to indicate that the communication of John is between churches, not individual ladies. Of course it could be children of a deceased sister, and they were interested in their cousins.