约翰二书
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
问安
1 我这作长老的，写信给蒙拣选的夫人和她的儿女。你们是我在真理中所爱的；不单是我，凡认识真理的， 2 也因为真理的缘故爱你们。这真理在我们里面，也必与我们同在，直到永远。 3 愿恩惠、怜悯、平安，从父 神和他儿子耶稣基督在真理和爱中与我们同在。
要按真理凭爱心行事
4 我看见你的儿女中，有人照着我们从父领受的命令在真理中行事，我就非常欣慰。 5 夫人哪，我现在请求你，我们要彼此相爱。我写给你的，不是一条新命令，而是我们从起初就有的。 6 我们要照着他的命令行事，这就是爱。你们从起初所听见的那命令，就是要你们凭着爱心行事。 7 有许多欺骗人的已经在世上出现，他们否认耶稣基督是成了肉身来的；这就是那骗人的和敌基督的。 8 你们要小心，不要拆毁我们已经完成的工作，却要得着美满的赏赐。 9 凡越过基督的教训又不持守的，就没有 神；持守这教训的，就有父和子了。 10 如果有人到你们那里，不传这教训，你们就不要接待他到家里，也不要问候他； 11 因为问候他的，就在他的恶事上有分了。
问候的话
12 我还有许多话要写给你们，可是我不想借用纸墨，只是盼望到你们那里当面谈谈，好让我们的喜乐充足。 13 你那蒙拣选的姊妹的儿女都问候你。
Yochanan II
Orthodox Jewish Bible
1 From the Zaken (Elder, SHEMOT 3:16). To the Gevirah HaBechirah (the Chosen Lady) and her Banim (Sons, Children), for whom I have ahavah (agape) b’Emes, and not only I but also all those who have Da’as HaEmes (Knowledge of the Truth),
2 Because of HaEmes that dwells inside us, and will be immanu (with us) for Yamim HaOlam.
3 Chen v’Chesed Hashem (unmerited Favor and Kindness), Rachamim Hashem (Mercy), and Shalom Hashem (Peace) will be immanu (with us) from Elohim HaAv and from Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, HaBen of HaAv, in Emes and Ahavah (agape).
4 I had simcha gedola (much joy) that I have found some of your Banim with a walk which is Halakhah b’Derech Emes (Conduct in the Way of Truth), just as we received a mitzvah (commandment) to do so from HaAv [1:3].
5 And now I beseech you, Gevirah [1:1], not as a mitzvah chadasha (new commandment) I am writing you, but that which we had meyReshit (from the Beginning): that we should have ahavah (agape) one for the other [Yochanan 13:34].
6 And this is ahavah, that we should walk with a halichah according to the Mitzvot of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach; this is the mitzvah just as you have heard it meyReshit. You must walk in it [1:5].
7 Because mat’im rabbim (many misleaders, deceivers) have gone out into the world, the ones not making the Ani Ma’amin moyde (confession) that Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua habah b’basar (has come in bodily flesh); this one is HaMat’eh (the Deceiving One) and the Anti-Moshiach.
8 Watch out for yourselves, lest you lose what we worked for, but may receive a sachar maleh (full reward).
9 Everyone who runs ahead and does not remain in the torah of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach does not have Hashem; the one remaining in the torah [of Moshiach], this one has both HaAv and HaBen.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this torah, do not receive him into your house [kehillah, shtiebel], and do not give him Drishat Shalom.
11 For the one giving Drishat Shalom to him has shuttafut (partnership) with his ma’asim hara’im (evil deeds).
12 I have many things to write to you; I wanted not to do so with parchment and ink, but I have the tikvah (hope) to be with you and to speak panim el panim (directly, in person—DEVARIM 34:10), that our simcha (joy) may be shleimah (complete).
13 Drishat Shalom from the Banim of your Achot HaBechirah (Chosen Sister).
2 John
New Catholic Bible
Salutation. 1 The Presbyter[a] to the chosen Lady and to her children whom I love in the truth—and not I alone but also all who know the truth 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever. 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
The Commandment of Love.[b] 4 It was a cause of great joy to me to discover that some of your children have been walking in the truth[c] just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 [d]But now, Lady, I am making this request of you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment but simply one that we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. 6 And this is love: when we walk according to his commandments.[e] This is the commandment that you have heard from the beginning, and you must follow it.
Warning against False Teachers.[f] 7 Many deceivers have gone forth into the world, those who refuse to acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Any such person is the Deceiver[g] and the Antichrist. 8 Be on your guard that you do not lose what we have worked to accomplish so that you will receive your reward in full.[h]
9 Anyone who fails to remain faithful to the teaching of Christ but goes beyond[i] it does not have God. Only the one who remains faithful to the teaching possesses both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not impart this teaching, do not receive him into your house or welcome him.[j] 11 For anyone who welcomes him has a share in his evil deeds.
12 Conclusion. I have much to write to you, but I do not think it prudent to do so with paper and ink.[k] Instead, I hope to visit you and to talk with you face to face so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your sister, the chosen one,[l] send you greetings.
Footnotes
- 2 John 1:1 Presbyter: i.e., a term (which may also be translated as “elder”) used to designate a leader in the early Church (see notes on Tit 1:5-9 and 1:7). Chosen Lady (or “Sovereign Lady”): reference to one of the Local Churches of the time, which was under the leadership of the Presbyter and was confused by the advent of false teachers among her members.
- 2 John 1:4 For more details, see 1 Jn 2:3-11; 3:11-14; 4:7-21.
- 2 John 1:4 Walking in the truth: i.e., leading a specifically Christian way of life (see 1 Jn 1:6f; 2:6, 11; 3 Jn 3).
- 2 John 1:5 John stresses the truth that words and deeds go together. Love means keeping the commandments of Jesus. And when Christians keep them, they are leading a life of faith.
- 2 John 1:6 His commandments: see 1 Jn 2:7f; 3:23; 4:21.
- 2 John 1:7 The false teachers are under the sign of the Antichrist (see 1 Jn 2:18-26; 4:1-3). They want to “go beyond” the teaching of Christ, thus adulterating Christ, the Gospel, and Love. This seems to be the Gnostic teaching attacked in the First Letter of John—that the Son of God did not become flesh (see Jn 1:14) but came upon the man Jesus temporarily at his Baptism and left before the crucifixion (see note on 1 Jn 5:6).
- 2 John 1:7 Deceiver: another title of the Antichrist or of those associated with him (see 1 Jn 2:18f, 22; 4:2f). Antichrist: see note on 1 Jn 2:18.
- 2 John 1:8 The author stresses that a future reward awaits those who work faithfully on earth (see Mk 9:41; 10:29f; Lk 19:16-19; Heb 11:26). We: some manuscripts have “you.”
- 2 John 1:9 Goes beyond: a reference to the Gnostics’ claim that they had advanced far beyond the teaching of the Apostles; they were, in effect, teaching pure speculation as apostolic doctrine (see 2 Tim 2:16; Tit 3:9).
- 2 John 1:10 The author warns against feeding and housing the false teachers, for that would be sharing in their evil deeds and tantamount to public approval.
- 2 John 1:12 The Presbyter is well aware that some things are better spoken face to face than written. So he hopes to visit the Church soon. Paper and ink: paper came from papyrus reeds, which were easily acquired. Ink was made by mixing carbon, water, and gum. Our joy: or “your joy.”
- 2 John 1:13 Your sister, the chosen one: most likely, another local church (perhaps that of Ephesus), which was also under the leadership of the Presbyter. Just as Christians are “brothers [and sisters],” the churches are “sisters.”
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International
