2 John
Chapter 1
What Happens in This Chapter
A church leader who calls himself the elder writes a short letter to a chosen lady and her children. He is glad some of her children are living in the truth, and he asks them to keep the old command to love one another. He warns that many deceivers have gone out who will not say that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and he tells the readers not to welcome such a person or greet him. He ends by saying he hopes to visit and talk in person instead of writing more.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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;
1This letter is from the elder, a leader in the church. It is written to the chosen lady and her children. I love you because of the truth. I am not the only one. Everyone who knows the truth loves you too.
2For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
2We love you because of the truth. That truth lives in us. It will stay with us forever.
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.
3God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son will be kind to you. They will show mercy and give peace. This comes with truth and love.
4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
4I was very happy about your children. Some of them are living in the truth. That is what the Father told us to do.
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.
5Now I ask you, dear lady, that we love one another. This is not a new rule. We have had it from the very beginning.
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.
6Love means we live the way God tells us to live. You heard this rule at the beginning. Keep living that way.
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.
7Many liars have gone out into the world. They will not say that Jesus Christ came as a real person with a body. A person like that is a liar and an antichrist, someone who works against Christ.
8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
8Watch yourselves. Do not lose what we have worked so hard for. Then you will get your whole reward.
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.
9Some people run ahead and leave the teaching of Christ. They do not have God. But whoever stays with that teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
10Someone may come to you without this teaching. Do not welcome that person into your house. Do not even greet him.
"Bid him God speed" in the old English does not mean wishing someone a fast trip. It means giving a friendly welcome or greeting.
11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
11Anyone who greets him is helping with the wrong things he does.
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.
12I have many more things to tell you. But I do not want to write them with paper and ink. I hope to come and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.
13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
13The children of your sister, who is also chosen by God, say hello to you. Amen.
"Amen" is a word people said at the end of a letter or a prayer. It means "yes, let it be so."
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