Geneva
(i)
1 THE ELDER to the elect Lady, and her children, whom I loue in the trueth: and not I onely, but also all that haue knowen the trueth,
2 For the trueths sake which dwelleth in vs, and shalbe with vs for euer:
3 Grace be with you, mercie and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Father, with trueth and loue.
4 I reioyced greatly, that I founde of thy children walking in trueth, as we haue receiued a commandement of the Father.
5 And nowe beseeche I thee, Lady, (not as writing a newe commandement vnto thee, but that same which we had from the beginning) that we loue one another.
6 And this is that loue, that we should walke after his commandements. This commandement is, that as ye haue heard from the beginning, ye should walke in it.
7 For many deceiuers are entred into this worlde, which confesse not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh. He that is such one, is a deceiuer and an Antichrist.
8 Looke to your selues, that we lose not the things which we haue done, but that we may receiue full reward.
9 Whosoeuer transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Sonne.
10 If there come any vnto you, and bring not this doctrine, receiue him not to house, neither bid him, God speede:
11 For he that biddeth him, God speede, is partaker of his euill deedes. Although I had many things to write vnto you, yet I woulde not write with paper and ynke: but I trust to come vnto you, and speake mouth to mouth, that our ioy may be full.
12 The sonnes of thine elect sister greete thee, Amen.
13 3 John
1 The Elder vnto the beloued Gaius, whom I loue in the trueth.
2 Beloued, I wish chiefly that thou prosperedst and faredst well as thy soule prospereth.
3 For I reioyced greatly when the brethren came, and testified of the trueth that is in thee, how thou walkest in the trueth.
4 I haue no greater ioy then these, that is, to heare that my sonnes walke in veritie.
5 Beloued, thou doest faithfully, whatsoeuer thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers,
6 Which bare witnesse of thy loue before the Churches. Whom if thou bringest on their iourney as it beseemeth according to God, thou shalt doe well,
7 Because that for his Names sake they went forth, and tooke nothing of the Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receiue such, that we might be helpers to the trueth.
9 I wrote vnto the Church: but Diotrephes which loueth to haue the preeminence among them, receiueth vs not.
10 Wherefore if I come, I will call to your remembrance his deedes which he doeth, pratling against vs with malicious wordes, and not therewith content, neither he himselfe receiueth the brethren, but forbiddeth them that woulde, and thrusteth them out of the Church.
11 Beloued, follow not that which is euill, but that which is good: he that doeth well, is of God: but he that doeth euill, hath not seene God.
12 Demetrius hath good report of al men, and of the trueth it selfe: yea, and wee our selues beare recorde, and ye know that our record is true.
13 I haue many things to write: but I will not with yncke and pen write vnto thee:
14 For I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speake mouth to mouth. Peace be with thee. The friends salute thee. Greete the friends by name.