1 ⁴ I was delighted to find that some of your children are living by the truth, as we were commanded by the Father. 1 ⁵ And now I have a request to make of you. Do not think I am giving a new command; I am recalling the one we have had before us from the beginning: let us love one another. 1 ⁶ And love means following the commands of God. This is the command which was given you from the beginning, to be your rule of life.
1 ⁷ Many deceivers have gone out into the world, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. These are the persons described as the Antichrist, the arch-deceiver. 1 ⁸ Beware of them, so that you may not lose all that we worked for, but receive your reward in full.
1 ⁹ Anyone who runs ahead too far, and does not stand by the doctrine of the Christ, is without God; he who stands by that doctrine possesses both the Father and the Son. 1 ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you who does not bring this doctrine, do not welcome him into your house or give him a greeting; 1 ¹¹ for anyone who gives him a greeting is an accomplice in his wicked deeds.