Study Desk

Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour.

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous.

By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother.

Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.

Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth,

I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.

The children of your elect sister greet you.

No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth.

span data-lang="eng" data-trans="rsv" data-ref="3jo.1.1" class="versetxt"> The elder to the beloved Ga'ius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul. For I greatly rejoiced when some of the brethren arrived and testified to the truth of your life, as indeed you do follow the truth. No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth. Beloved, it is a loyal thing you do when you render any service to the brethren, especially to strangers, who have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey as befits God's service. For they have set out for his sake and have accepted nothing from the heathen. So we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers in the truth. I have written something to the church; but Diot'rephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, prating against me with evil words. And not content with that, he refuses himself to welcome the brethren, and also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God. Deme'trius has testimony from every one, and from the truth itself; I testify to him too, and you know my testimony is true. I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. [fn] Peace be to you! (Good-bye!) The friends here send you greetings. Remember me to the friends there [to every one of them personally] by name.

and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.