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2 John 1

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Salutation and Greeting 1–3

1
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; ​
2
For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Walking in Truth and Love 4–6

4
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. ​
5
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. ​
6
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. ​

Warning Against Deceivers 7–11

7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ​
8
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. ​
10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: ​
11
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Concluding Remarks 12–13

12
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. ​
13
The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 John 1

Verse 1

The elder unto the elect lady — Presbyteros, elder, the title Peter shares in 1 Pet 5:1, 'who am also an elder' (sympresbyteros, fellow-elder). Kyria, 'lady', is read as a woman's name or as a congregation with its 'children'. 'Truth' (aletheia) is the chapter's keyword: it names the sphere of love here, and the thing known by all who 'have known the truth'.

Verse 4

walking in truth — Peripateo, to walk about, the verb of conduct. The same joy is 3 John 1:4, 'I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth'. 'Commandment' (entole) appears in vv.4–6 four times: what the children keep is a commandment 'from the Father'.

Verse 5

not as though I wrote a new commandment — The commandment 'that we love one another' is the one Christ calls 'new' (John 13:34), yet 'old' because 'ye had from the beginning' (1 John 2:7). It was not written to introduce something; it is asked ('I beseech', erotao) that it be kept.

Verse 6

this is love, that we walk after his commandments — Love is defined by conduct: 'If ye love me, keep my commandments' (John 14:15); 'this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments' (1 John 5:3). 'Walk' is again peripateo, as in v.4. 'From the beginning' is the starting-point of v.5.

Verse 7

a deceiver and an antichrist — Planos, a wanderer, one who leads astray; used of Christ himself by his accusers (Matt 27:63). Antichristos occurs only in John's letters (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; here). The test is the confession of 1 John 4:2–3, 'Jesus Christ is come in the flesh'.

Verse 9

abideth not in the doctrine of Christ — Parabaino, to go beyond or aside; the verb of Matt 15:3, 'Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God'. Meno, abide, is John's verb for staying put (1 John 2:24). The result is stated twice over: to deny the Son is to lack the Father (1 John 2:23); he that abides 'hath both the Father and the Son'.

Verse 10

receive him not into your house — Oikia, a house or household. The test is the 'doctrine' (didache) he brings, as in v.9. 'God speed' is chairo, 'rejoice' or 'hail', the word used of the elder's own rejoicing in v.4. The reason follows in v.11: 'he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds'.

Verse 12

with paper and ink — Chartes, a papyrus sheet, found only here; melas, ink, also in 2 Cor 3:3 and 3 John 1:13, which repeats, 'I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee'. 'Face to face' is literally 'mouth to mouth' (stoma), as in Num 12:8. The joy is to be 'full' (pleroo).