‘The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all they who know the truth, for the truth's sake which abides in us, and it will be with us for ever.' This verse is full of ‘truth'. He assures the recipients that his love for them is true, and that so... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.' The permanent nature of their true faith results from God's grace, mercy and peace, which will keep them in truth and love, and from the grace, mercy and truth of Jesus Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
‘I rejoice greatly that I have found of your children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.' This does not necessarily mean that some were not walking according to the truth, only that he himself did not know all her children. But the point is that those whom he did kno... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.'... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even those who do not confess that Jesus Christ comes in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.' Mention is now made of those whom they should guard against, the deceivers, those who deny that Jesus the Christ came in the flesh as a hu... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Look to yourselves, that you do not lose the things which we have wrought, but that you receive a full reward. Whoever goes onward and abides not in the teaching of Christ, has not God. He who abides in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.' So the warning goes out to ‘watch out'.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘If any one comes to you, and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and give him no greeting, for he who gives him greeting partakes in his evil works.' The matter has in fact become so serious that those who are clearly deceivers in this way, and do not teach this truth... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Having many things to write to you, I would not write them with paper and ink. But I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.' He has much more to say, but will wait until he sees them face to face. For he is hoping to come to them and make their joy full. Wi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The children of your elect sister salute you.' This may signify the members of a sister church. Or it may signify that both sisters were of powerful families and had churches in their households. Either way the greeting goes from the one to the other.... [ Continue Reading ]