2 John 1:6

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.

And {G2532} this {G3778} is {G2076} love {G26}, that {G2443} we walk {G4043} after {G2596} his {G846} commandments {G1785}. This {G3778} is {G2076} the commandment {G1785}, That {G2443}, as {G2531} ye have heard {G191} from {G575} the beginning {G746}, ye should walk {G4043} in {G1722} it {G846}.

Moreover, love is this: that we should live according to his commands. This is the command, as you people have heard from the beginning; live by it!

And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.

Commentary

Second John 1:6 provides a concise yet profound definition of Christian love, firmly rooting it in obedience to God's commands. Written by the Apostle John, this verse serves as a vital anchor in a letter primarily concerned with warning against false teachers and emphasizing the importance of both truth and love within the Christian community.

Context

The Second Epistle of John is a brief but impactful letter addressed to "the elect lady and her children," likely a local church or a prominent Christian woman and her family. John's primary concern is to encourage believers to persevere in sound doctrine and genuine love, especially in the face of itinerant deceivers who deny the incarnation of Christ. This verse, 2 John 1:6, follows immediately after John's affirmation of joy in finding some of the elect lady's children walking in truth. It clarifies that this walk in truth is inseparable from a life of love, and that true love is expressed through obedience.

Key Themes

  • Love Defined by Obedience: The central message is that true love for God and for one another is not merely an emotion or a sentiment, but an active commitment to obey God's commandments. This concept is foundational to John's theology, as seen in his Gospel and First Epistle. It highlights that love for God is demonstrated by keeping His precepts.
  • Continuity of the Commandment: The phrase "as ye have heard from the beginning" emphasizes that this truth—that love involves obedience—is not a new teaching. It resonates with the original apostolic message and the very teachings of Christ himself. This reinforces the steadfastness and unchanging nature of God's expectations for His people, distinguishing genuine doctrine from the novel teachings of deceivers. See 1 John 2:7 for a similar emphasis.
  • Walking in the Commandments: The repeated emphasis on "walk in it" (Greek: peripateo) signifies a continuous lifestyle, a habitual conduct, rather than isolated acts. It speaks to the practical, day-to-day living out of one's faith. For John, walking in truth and love means living a life consistent with God's revealed will.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "walk" (peripateo) is frequently used in the New Testament to describe one's manner of life, conduct, or behavior. It implies a continuous journey or progression. Therefore, "walk after his commandments" means to conduct one's life according to God's instructions, making them the guiding principles of one's daily existence. The word "commandment" (Greek: entole) refers to an injunction or precept, often used in the plural to refer to the collective body of God's laws, but here in the singular, it points to the overarching command to live in love and truth, which encapsulates all other commands.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 John 1:6 serves as a powerful reminder that our profession of love for God must be authenticated by our obedience to His Word. It challenges us to move beyond mere sentimentality and to actively embody the principles of Christ in our daily lives. This verse encourages introspection: do our actions truly reflect our claims of love for God? It also underscores the importance of adhering to foundational Christian teachings, as the "commandment" to love and obey has been consistent "from the beginning." Living this truth means discerning true doctrine from false and continuing in the path laid out by God's unchanging Word, particularly the new commandment to love one another.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 John 5:3

    For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

  • 1 John 2:24

    Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

  • 1 John 2:5

    But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

  • John 15:10

    If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

  • John 14:15

    If ye love me, keep my commandments.

  • John 15:14

    Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

  • Galatians 5:13

    ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
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