2 John

From the elder. To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth. And I am not the only one who loves you. Everyone who knows the truth loves you too.

1The 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;

Note"The elder" translates the Greek presbyteros, an older man, and also the title of an officeholder in the early churches. The writer gives no personal name, only this title. "Elect" means chosen. Readers have long disagreed about whether "the elect lady and her children" is one particular woman and her family, or a whole congregation addressed as a woman with its members as her children; the Greek allows either, and verse 13 works the same way.

2We love you because of the truth that lives in us and will be with us forever.

2For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. May they be with us in truth and love.

3Grace 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.

NoteGreek letters normally opened with a one word greeting. Christian letters expanded it into a formula like this one. Note also that the Greek here is a statement, "will be with us," rather than a wish, "may it be with you," which is unusual for such an opening.

4I was very glad to find some of your children living by the truth, just as the Father commanded us to do.

4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

Note"Walking" is the ordinary Jewish and early Christian image for the whole conduct of a life, the way a person goes about day to day. It carries on through verse 6.

5And now, dear lady, I ask you this. I am not writing a new command to you. It is the one we have had from the very beginning: that we love one another.

5And 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.

6And this is what love is: that we live by his commands. This is the command you have heard from the beginning, and you should live by it.

6And 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.

7I say this because many people who fool others have gone out into the world. They refuse to say that Jesus Christ came as a human being, with a real body. Anyone like that is a deceiver and an antichrist.

7For 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.

Note"Antichrist" is the Greek antichristos, meaning either against Christ or in the place of Christ. The word appears in the New Testament only in the letters of John, and there it is used of people alive at the time who taught what the writer regards as a denial of Christ, not only of a single future figure.

8Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but instead receive the full reward.

8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Note"Wrought" is simply the old past tense of "work." Manuscripts differ over the pronouns in this verse, some reading "that you do not lose what you have worked for," others "what we have worked for."

9Anyone who goes beyond the teaching of Christ, and does not stay in it, does not have God. Whoever stays in that teaching has both the Father and the Son.

9Whosoever 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.

NoteThe King James "transgresseth" follows a later Greek reading. The earliest manuscripts have a word meaning to go on ahead or run out in front, so the picture is of someone advancing past the teaching rather than breaking a rule. "Abideth" means stays or remains.

10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house, and do not welcome him.

10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

NoteTraveling teachers depended on households for food and lodging, and congregations commonly met in private homes, so taking someone into your house meant both sheltering him and giving him a platform. "Bid him God speed" is not a farewell about speed; it is the ordinary Greek greeting chairein, and the old English phrase means roughly "may God prosper you." To offer it was to signal public acceptance of the person.

11For whoever welcomes him shares in the wrong things he does.

11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

12I have many things to write to you, but I would rather not use paper and ink. I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

12Having 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.

Note"Paper" is papyrus, sheets made from a reed, and the ink was soot mixed with gum and water. The Greek behind "face to face" is literally "mouth to mouth."

13The children of your chosen sister send you their greetings. Amen.

13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

Note"Thy elect sister" matches the "elect lady" of verse 1, so on the reading that the letter addresses a congregation, this is a greeting from the members of another church. "Amen" is a Hebrew word of affirmation, roughly "so be it"; it is absent from the earliest manuscripts here and was added by later copyists.