1The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
1作長老的寫信給蒙揀選的太太（或作：教會；下同），和他的兒女，就是我誠心所愛的；不但我愛，也是一切知道真理之人所愛的。
2for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
2愛你們是為真理的緣故，這真理存在我們裡面，也必永遠與我們同在。
3Grace, mercy [and] peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
3恩惠，憐憫，平安從父神和他兒子耶穌基督在真理和愛心上必常與我們同在！
4I was very glad to find [some] of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment [to do] from the Father.
4我見你的兒女，有照我們從父所受之命令遵行真理的，就甚歡喜。
5Now 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.
5太太阿，我現在勸你，我們大家要彼此相愛。這並不是我寫一條新命令給你，乃是我們從起初所受的命令。
6And 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.
6我們若照他的命令行，這就是愛。你們從起初所聽見當行的，就是這命令。
7For 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.
7因為世上有許多迷惑人的出來，他們不認耶穌基督是成了肉身來的；這就是那迷惑人、敵基督的。
8Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
8你們要小心，不要失去你們（有古卷：我們）所做的工，乃要得著滿足的賞賜。
9Anyone 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.
9凡越過基督的教訓、不常守著的，就沒有神；常守這教訓的，就有父又有子。
10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into [your] house, and do not give him a greeting;
10若有人到你們那裡，不是傳這教訓，不要接他到家裡，也不要問他的安；
11for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
11因為問他安的，就在他的惡行上有分。
12Though 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.
12我還有許多事要寫給你們，卻不願意用紙墨寫出來，但盼望到你們那裡，與你們當面談論，使你們的喜樂滿足。
13The children of your chosen sister greet you.
13你那蒙揀選之姊妹的兒女都問你安。