He commendeth the lady and her sons for continuing in the old faith, bidding them so to do hereafter also, lest they lose the reward of their works in the day of judgement: and to love the true believers, but with Heretics to have no society: pressing also the points then in controversy.He commendeth the lady and her sonnes for continuing in the old faith, bidding them so to doe hereafter also, lest they lose the revvard of their vvorkes in the day of iudgement: and to loue the true beleeuers, but vvith Heretikes to haue no societie: pressing also the points then in controuersie.✦
The Senior: the Elder, the Ancient (the Apostle's own title) to the lady Elect and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all that have known the truth,THE Senior to the lady Elect and her children, vvhom I loue in truth, and not I onely, but also al that haue knovven the truth,✦Senior Electæ dominæ, et natis ejus, quos ego diligo in veritate, et non ego solus, sed et omnes qui cognoverunt veritatem,
2for the truth which abideth in us, and shall be with us for ever.for the truth vvhich abideth in vs, and shal be vvith vs for euer.✦propter veritatem, quæ permanet in nobis, et nobiscum erit in æternum.
3Grace be with you, mercy, peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus the son of the Father in truth, and caritate: love.Grace be vvith you, mercie, peace from God the Father, and from Christ IESVS the sonne of the Father in truth, and charitie.✦Sit vobiscum gratia, misericordia, pax a Deo Patre, et a Christo Jesu Filio Patris in veritate, et caritate.
4I was exceeding glad, because I have found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment of the Father.I vvas exceeding glad, because I haue found of thy children vvalking in truth, as vve haue receiued commaundement of the Father.Gavisus sum valde, quoniam inveni de filiis tuis ambulantes in veritate, sicut mandatum accepimus a Patre.
5And now I beseech thee Lady, not as writing a new commandment to thee, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.And novv I beseeche thee Lady, not as vvriting a nevv commaundement to thee, but that vvhich vve haue had from the beginning, *that vve loue one an other.¶✦Et nunc rogo te domina, non tamquam mandatum novum scribens tibi, sed quod habuimus ab initio, ut diligamus alterutrum.
6And this is charity, that we walk according to his commandments. For this is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you walk in the same.And this is charitie, that vve vvalke according to his commaundements. For this is the commaundement, that as you haue heard from the beginning, you vvalke in the same.✦Et hæc est caritas, ut ambulemus secundum mandata ejus. Hoc est enim mandatum, ut quemadmodum audistis ab initio, in eo ambuletis.
7because many seductores: deceivers, leaders-astray, not sexual seducers are gone out into the world, which do not confess Jesus Christ to have come into flesh: this is a seducer and an antichrist.because many seducers are gone out into the vvorld, vvhich do not confesse IESVS Christ to haue come into flesh: this is a seducer and an antichrist.✦Quoniam multi seductores exierunt in mundum, qui non confitentur Jesum Christum venisse in carnem : hic est seductor, et antichristus.
8Look to yourselves, that you lose not the things which you have operati estis: worked, accomplished: but that you may receive a full reward.Looke to your selues, that you lose not the things vvhich you haue vvrought: but that you may receiue a ful revvard.✦Videte vosmetipsos, ne perdatis quæ operati estis : sed ut mercedem plenam accipiatis.
9Every one that recedit: withdraws, falls away (goes back), not an armed uprising, and persisteth not in the doctrine of Christ: hath not God. He that persisteth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father, and the Son.Euery one that c reuolteth, and persisteth not in the doctrine of Christ: hath not God. He that persisteth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father, and the Sonne.✦Omnis qui recedit, et non permanet in doctrina Christi, Deum non habet : qui permanet in doctrina, hic et Patrem et Filium habet.
10If any man come to Ave: a greeting, "hail" (the salutation Ave), and bring not this doctrine: receive him not into the house, nor say, God save you, unto him.If any man come to you, and bring not this doctrine: receiue him not into the house, nor say, God saue you,* vnto him.¶✦Si quis venit ad vos, et hanc doctrinam non affert, nolite recipere eum in domum, nec Ave ei dixeritis.
11For he that saith unto him, God save you, communicat: shares in, partakes of, not merely speaks with with his wicked works.For he that saith vnto him, God saue you, communicateth vvith his vvicked vvorkes.Qui enim dicit illi Ave, communicat operibus ejus malignis.
12Having more things to write unto you: I would not by paper and ink: for I hope that I shall be with you, and speak mouth to mouth: that your joy may be full.Hauing moe thinges to vvrite vnto you: I vvould not by paper and inke: for I hope that I shal be vvith you, and speake mouth to mouth: that your ioy may be ful.✦Plura habens vobis scribere, nolui per cartam et atramentum : spero enim me futurum apud vos, et os ad os loqui : ut gaudium vestrum plenum sit.
13The children of thy sister Elect salute thee.The children of thy sister Elect salute thee.✦Salutant te filii sororis tuæ Electæ.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
5From the beginning. This is the rule of a Christian Catholic man, to walk in that faith which he received from the beginning. Which is that which we now call according to the Scriptures, the tradition of the Apostles: that which is come to us from man to man, from Bishop to Bishop, and so from the Apostles. So shall a faithful man avoid the heresies that rise up in every age, teaching new doctrine.From the beginning. This is the rule of a Christian Catholike man, to vvalke in that faith vvhich he received from the beginning. Vvhich is that vvhich vve novv cal according to the Scriptures, the tradition of the Apostles: that vvhich is come to vs from man to man, from Bishop to Bishop, and so from the Apostles. So shal a faithful man auoid the heresies that rise vp in euery age, teaching nevv doctrine.
10This doctrine. The Apostles, and true Pastors their lawful successors, and the Church of God in holy Council, use to set down the true doctrine in those points which Heretics call into controversy. Which being once done and declared to the faithful, they need no other mark or description to know a Heretic or false teacher by, but that he cometh with another doctrine than that which is set down to them. Neither can the Heretics shift themselves, as nowadays they would do, saying, let us first be proved Heretics by the Scriptures, let them define a Heretic. No, this is not the Apostles' rule. Many a good honest shepherd knoweth a wolf, that cannot define him. but the Apostle saith, If he bring not this set doctrine, he is a seducer. So holy Church saith now, Christ is really in the B. Sacrament, under form of bread and wine, &c. If therefore he bring not this doctrine, he is a seducer, and a Heretic: and we must avoid him, whether in his own definitions and censures he seem to himself a Heretic or no.This doctrine. The Apostles, and true Pastors their lavvful successors, and the Church of God in holy Council, vse to set dovvne the true doctrine in those pointes vvhich Heretikes cal into controuersie. Vvhich being once done and declared to the faithful, they neede no other marke or description to knovv a Heretike or false teacher by, but that he commeth vvith an other doctrine then that vvhich is set dovvne to them. Neither can the Heretikes shift them selues, as novv a daies they vvould doe, saying, let vs first be proued Heretikes by the Scriptures, let them define an Heretike. No, this is not the Apostles rule. Many a good honest shepheard knovveth a vvoulf, that can not define him. but the Apostle saith, If he bring not this set doctrine, he is a seducer. So holy Church saith novv, Christ is really in the B. Sacrament, vnder forme of bread and vvine &c. If therefore he bring not this doctrine, he is a seducer, and an Heretike: and vve must auoide him, vvhether in his ovvne definitions and censures he seeme to him self an Heretike or no.
10Receive him not. Though in such times and places where the community or most part be infected, necessity often forceth the faithful to converse with such in worldly affairs, to salute them, to eat and speak with them, and the Church by decree of Council, for the more quietness, with Heretics of timorous consciences provideth, that they incur not excommunication or other censures for it: yet communicating in worldly affairs with any in this kind, except they be by name excommunicated or declared to be Heretics: yet even in worldly conversation and secular acts of our life, we must avoid them as much as we may, because their familiarity is many ways contagious and noisome to good men, namely to the simple: but in matter of religion, in praying, reading their books, hearing their sermons, presence at their service, partaking of their Sacraments, and all other communicating with them in spiritual things, it is a great damnable sin to deal with them.Receiue him not. Though in such times and places vvhere the communitie or most part be infected, necessitie often forceth the faithful to converse vvith such in vvordly affaires, to salute them, to eate and speake vvith them, and the Church by decree of Councel, for the more quietnes, vvith heretikes of timorous consciences prouideth, that they incurre not excommunication or other censures for it: yet communicating in vvordly affaires vvith any in this kinde, except they be by name excommunicated or declared to be Heretikes: yet euen in vvorldly conuersation and secular actes of our life, vve must auoid them as much as vve may, because their familiaritie is many vvaies contagious and noisome to good men, namely to the simple: but in matter of religion, in praying, reading their bookes, hearing their sermons, presence at their seruice, partaking of their Sacraments, and al other communicating vvith them in spiritual things, it is a great damnable sinne to deale vvith them.
10Nor say, God save you. St. Irenæus (lib. 3, c. 3) reporteth a notable story of this holy Apostle in this point, out of St. Polycarp, which is this. There be some (saith he) that have heard Polycarp say, that when John the disciple of our Lord was going to Ephesus, into a bath, to wash himself, and seeing Cerinthus the Heretic within the same, he suddenly skipt out, saying that he feared lest the bath should fall, because Cerinthus the enemy of truth was within. So saith he of St. John, and addeth also a like worthy example of St. Polycarp himself, who on a time meeting Marcion the Heretic, and the said Marcion calling upon him, and asking him whether he knew him not: Yes, quoth Polycarp, I know thee for Satan's son and heir. So great fear (saith St. Irenæus) had the Apostles and their disciples to communicate in word only, with such as were adulterers or corrupters of the truth.Nor say, God saue you. S. Irenæus (li. 3 c. 3) reporteth a notable storie of this holy Apostle in this point, out of S. Polycarpus, vvhich is this. There be some (saith he) that haue heard Polycarpe say, that vvhen Iohn the disciple of our Lord vvas going to Ephesus, into a bath, to vvash him self, and seing Cerinthus the Heretike vvithin the same, he sodenly skipt out, saying that he feared lest the bath should fall, because Cerinthus the enemie of truth vvas vvithin. So saith he of S. Iohn, and addeth also a like vvorthie example of S. Polycarpe him self, vvho on a time meeting Marcion the Heretike, and the said Marcion calling vpon him, and asking him vvhether he knevv him not: Yes, quoth Polycarpe, I knovv thee for Satans sonne and heire. So great feare (saith S. Irenæus) had the Apostles and their disciples to communicate in vvord onely, vvith such as vvere adulterers or corrupters of the truth.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.