Translations
Modern
And 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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And now I implore you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Latin
Et nunc rogo te domina, non tamquam mandatum novum scribens tibi, sed quod habuimus ab initio, ut diligamus alterutrum.
Original
Greek
English
And 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.
Notes
I urge you, dear lady: See study note on 1:1.
John now applies the truth and love that he mentioned in the introduction (1:1–3) to the situation of those he is writing to. Living in truth and love means maintaining unity or fellowship with true Christians (1:4–6). It also involves recognizing false teachers and choosing not to listen to or support them (1:7–11).
Parallels
Glossary
Topics
Commandments: Other Apostles: Precepts of, Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Love of Man for Man