12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full. 13 The children of thine elect sister salute thee.

John has given his counsel of Christian love, he has sounded his warning against compromising essential truth; he now adds that there are many other matters, of real importance to his readers, which he would gladly communicate; however, he finds writing with paper and ink to be unsatisfactory, and he is consoled with the expectation of an approaching visit when he can speak with his friends ''face to face"; he is certain that they will share in his joy at such a meeting.

Possibly it is reassuring to Christians of the present day to remember that they have apostolic sympathy in their dissatisfaction with pen and ink as means of communicating with those they love. Surely there is much that is more satisfying in speaking "face to face," or as we should say, "heart to heart." However, even a letter is preferable to complete isolation, and surely the world would be much poorer had the aged apostle refrained from sending to his friends this epistle which tells us that we are to walk in love and to abide in the truth, if we are to enjoy grace and mercy and peace "from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father." The final salutation is from the members of a household or church related to those to whom the epistle has been penned, and it adds another touch to the assurance of fellowship which all enjoy who are united in their acceptance of Christian truth.