作長老的寫信給蒙揀選的太太〔「太太」或作「教會」。下同。〕和她的兒女，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。
The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
作長老的寫信給蒙揀選的太太〔「太太」或作「教會」。下同。〕和她的兒女，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。
The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
愛你們是為真理的緣故，這真理存在我們裏面，也必永遠與我們同在。
because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
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！
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.
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。
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
太太啊，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。
And now I ask you, dear lady — not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning — that we love one another.
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。
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
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。
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
你們要小心，不要失去你們〔有古卷作「我們」〕所做的工，乃要得著滿足的賞賜。
Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
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。
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
若有人到你們那裏，不是傳這教訓，不要接他到家裏，也不要問他的安；
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,
因為問他安的，就在他的惡行上有分。
for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
我還有許多事要寫給你們，卻不願意用紙墨寫出來，但盼望到你們那裏，與你們當面談論，使你們的喜樂滿足。
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
你那蒙揀選之姊妹的兒女都問你安。
The children of your elect sister greet you.