1The elder to the elect Lady & her chyldren, whom I loue in the trueth: and not I only, but also all that haue knowen ye trueth:
2For the truthes sake which dwelleth in vs, and shalbe in vs for euer:
3Grace be with you, mercie, and peace from God the father, & from the Lorde Iesus Christe the sonne of the father, in trueth and loue.
4I reioyced greatly, that I founde of thy chyldren walkyng in trueth, as we haue receaued a commaundement of the father.
5And nowe beseche I thee Lady, not as though I wrote a newe commaundement vnto thee: but that same which we haue had from the begynnyng, that we shoulde loue one another.
6And this is the loue, that we shoulde walke after his comaundement. This commaundement is, that as ye haue hearde from the begynnyng, ye shoulde walke in it.
7For many deceauers are entred into the worlde, which confesse not that Iesus Christe is come in the fleshe. This is a deceauer and an antichriste.
8Loke on your selues, that we loose not that we haue wrought: but that we may haue a full rewarde.
9Whosoeuer transgresseth, and bideth not in the doctrine of Christe, hath not God: He that endureth in the doctrine of Christe, hath both the father and the sonne.
10If there come any vnto you, and bring not this learnyng, hym receaue not to house: neither byd hym God speede.
11For he that byddeth hym God speede, is partaker of his euyll deedes.
12I had many thynges to write vnto you: neuerthelesse, I woulde not write with paper & inke, but I trust to come vnto you, and speake with you mouth to mouth, that our ioy may be full.
13The sonnes of thy elect sister greete thee. Amen.