2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:3Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.

Walking in the Truth

4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.5And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.6And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

Beware of Deceivers

7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.9Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.10If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.11Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

Conclusion

12I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.13The children of your elect sister send you greetings.

A Greeting from the Elder

1The elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth:

2Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.3For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Gaius Commended for Hospitality

5Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.6They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.7For they went out on behalf of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Diotrephes and Demetrius

9I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.10So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.

11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.

Conclusion

13I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.14Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.

A Greeting from Jude

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ:2Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

God’s Judgment on the Ungodly

3Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints.4For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.6And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.7In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.8Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.9But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”10These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.11Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.12These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

16These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

A Call to Persevere

17But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ18when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”19These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.