en_tn/1jn/03/18.md

My children

John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in 1 John 2:1. Alternate translation: "You who are as dear to me as my own children" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

let us not love in word or in tongue, but in actions and truth

The phrases "in word" and "in tongue" both refer to what a person says. Alternate translation: "do not just say that you love people, but show that you truly love people by helping them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)

in actions and truth

The words "let us love" are understood here. Alternate translation: "let us love in actions and truth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)