Verse 18

Little children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Rom 12:9 : 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
  • Jas 2:15-16 : 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm and be well fed,' but does not provide for their physical needs, what good is it?
  • Matt 25:41-45 : 41 Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not take me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve you?’ 45 Then he will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’
  • Ezek 33:31 : 31 They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express love, but their hearts pursue unjust gain.
  • 1 Cor 13:4-7 : 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
  • Gal 5:13 : 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
  • Gal 6:1-2 : 1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit. Watch yourself, so that you too might not be tempted. 2 Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
  • Eph 4:1-3 : 1 Therefore, I, a prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
  • Eph 4:15 : 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
  • 1 Pet 1:22 : 22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
  • 1 John 2:1 : 1 My dear children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
  • 2 John 1:1-3 John 1:15 : 1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth—and not only I, but also all who have come to know the truth. 2 Because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, in truth and love. 4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we received the commandment from the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I am writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world—those who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes beyond and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or greet him. 11 For the one who greets him shares in his wicked works. 12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen. 1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified to your truth, as you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. 6 They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore, we ought to support people like these so that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, does not acknowledge us. 10 Because of this, if I come, I will bring up what he is doing: spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and he also prevents others who want to do so and expels them from the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I had many things to write, but I do not want to write to you with ink and pen. 14 But I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. 15 Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name.