THE SECOND EPISTLE

or

JOHN.

THE elder to the elect lady, and to her children, 1 whom I love in truth,—and not I alone but also all that know the truth,-for the sake of the 2 truth, which abides in us, and shall be with us for ever: Grace, mercy, peace, shall be with 3 you, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

I rejoiced greatly that I have found of thy 4 children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And now I be- 5 seech thee, lady, not as writing to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this 6 is love, that we walk according to his commandments; and this is the commandment, as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it. 7 Because many deceivers went out into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ comes in the flesh. This is the deceiver, and the antichrist.

II. JOHN.

8 Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we wrought, but receive a full reward. 9 Every one who transgresses, and abides not in the teaching of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

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If any one comes to you, and brings not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and 11 do not bid him good speed; for he that bids him good speed is partaker in his evil deeds.

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Having many things to write to you, I would not [write] with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of thy elect sister salute thee.

V. 9. In ancient copies: Every one who goes onward, and abides not

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THE THIRD EPISTLE

ог

JOHN.

THE elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love 1 in truth.

Beloved, concerning all things I pray that 2 thou mayest prosper and be in health, as thy soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly, when 3 brethren came and bore witness to thy truth, as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater 4 joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

Beloved, thou doest a faithful thing, in what- 5 soever thou doest to the brethren, and that to strangers, who bore witness to thy love before 6 the church; whom if thou send forward on their journey worthily of God, thou wilt do well; for 7 on behalf of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to 8 sustain such persons, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

I wrote somewhat to the church; but Diotre- 9 phes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not. Therefore, if I come, I 10

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will bring to remembrance his deeds which he does, prating against us with evil words. And not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and those who are willing he forbids, and casts them out of the church.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He that does good is of God; he that does evil has not seen God.

12 To Demetrius testimony has been borne by all,

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and by the truth itself; yea, we also bear witness, and thou knowest that our witness is true. I had many things to write to thee, but I wish 14 not to write to thee with ink and pen; but I hope immediately to see thee, and we shall speak face to face.

Peace be to thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.

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THE GENERAL EPISTLE

OF

JUDE.

JUDE, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother 1 of James, to the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy, and 2 peace, and love, be multiplied to you.

Beloved, while giving all diligence to write to 3 you concerning the common salvation, I found it needful for me to write to you exhorting to contend earnestly for the faith delivered once for all to the saints. For there crept in stealthily certain 4 men, who of old were appointed beforehand to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into wantonness, and denying the only Master, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

But I wish to remind you, as once knowing 5 all, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And angels who kept not 6 their principality, but left their own habitation, he has kept in everlasting chains under darkness