| 1:1 | 作長老的寫信給蒙揀選的太太、〔太太或作教會下同〕和他的兒女、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 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; |
| 1:2 | 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. | For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. |
| 1:3 | 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 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. |
| 1:4 | 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 that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. |
| 1:5 | 太太阿、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 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. |
| 1:6 | 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 after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. |
| 1:7 | 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 are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. |
| 1:8 | 你們要小心、不要失去你們〔有古卷作我們〕所作的工、乃要得着滿足的賞賜。 | Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. |
| 1:9 | 凡越過基督的教訓、不常守着的、就沒有 神.常守這教訓的、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. |
| 1:10 | 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 there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: |
| 1:11 | 因為問他安的、就在他的惡行上有分。 | For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. |
| 1:12 | 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。 | 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. |
| 1:13 | 你那蒙揀選之姊妹的兒女都問你安。 | The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. |