问候
我作长老的写信给蒙拣选的夫人☛“夫人”或译“教会”；5节同。和她的儿女，就是我真心所爱的；不但我爱，也是一切认识真理的人所爱的，
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这是因为真理住在我们里面，也必与我们同在直到永远。For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3愿恩惠、怜悯、平安☛“平安”或译“和平”。从父神和他儿子耶稣基督，在真理和爱中必与我们同在。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.
真理和爱
4我非常欢喜见你的儿女，有照我们从父所受之命令遵行真理的。I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
5夫人哪，我现在请求你，我们大家要彼此相爱。我写给你的，并不是一条新命令，而是我们从起初就有的。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这就是爱，就是照他的命令行事；这就是命令，你们要照这命令行，正如你们从起初所听见的。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.
7有许多迷惑人的已经来到世上，他们不宣认耶稣基督是成了肉身来的；这样的人是迷惑人的，是敌基督的。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你们要小心，不要失去你们☛“你们”：有古卷是“我们”。所完成的工作，而要得到充足的赏赐。Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9凡越过基督的教导而不持守的，就没有神；凡持守这教导的，就有父又有子。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若有人到你们那里而不传这教导，不要接他到家里，也不要向他问安；If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11因为向他问安的，就在他的恶行上有份。For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
结束的问安
12我还有许多事要写给你们，却不愿意用纸用墨，但盼望到你们那里，与你们面对面谈论，使我们的喜乐得以满足。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你那蒙拣选的姊妹的儿女向你问安。The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.