2 John
Wycliffe Bible
1 The elder man, to the chosen lady [The elder man to the lady Electa], and to her children, which I love in truth; and not I alone, but also all men that know truth [but and all men that knew truth];
2 for the truth that dwelleth in you, and with you shall be without end. [for the truth that dwelleth in you, and with you shall be into without end].
3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace of God the Father, and of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and charity.
4 I joyed full much, for I found of thy sons going in truth, as we received commandment of the Father.
5 And now I pray thee, lady, not as writing a new commandment to thee, but that that we had from the beginning, that we love each other.
6 And this is charity, that we walk after his commandments. For this is the commandment, that as ye heard at the beginning, walk ye in him.
7 For many deceivers went out into the world, which acknowledge not that Jesus Christ hath come in flesh; this is a deceiver and antichrist.
8 See ye yourselves, lest ye lose the things that ye have wrought, [but] that ye receive full meed;
9 witting that each man that goeth before [witting that each man that goeth away], and dwelleth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God. He that dwelleth in the teaching [of Christ], hath both the Son and the Father.
10 If any man cometh to you, and bringeth not this teaching, do not ye receive him into your house, neither say to him, Hail.
11 For he that saith to him, Hail, communeth with his evil works. Lo! I before-said to you, that ye be not confounded in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
12 I have more things to write to you, and I would not by parchment and ink [I having more things to write to you, would not by parchment and ink]; for I hope that I shall come to you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy be full.
13 The sons of thy chosen sister greet thee well [The sons of thy sister Electa greet thee well]. The grace of God be with thee. Amen.
2 John
New Matthew Bible
He writes to a certain lady, rejoices that her children walk in the truth, exhorts them unto love, warns them to beware of such deceivers as deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and prays them to continue in the doctrine of Christ, and to have nothing to do with those who do not bring this teaching.
1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth – and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 for the sake of the truth that dwells in us and shall be in us forever.
3 With you be grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found some of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech you, dear lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that same which we had from the beginning: that we should love one another. 6 And this is the love: that we should walk according to his commandments.
For this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning: walk in him. 7 For many deceivers have entered into the world, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not that which we have wrought, but that we may have a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who endures in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, neither bid him Godspeed. 11 For he who bids him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.
12 I had many things to write to you. Nevertheless, I would rather not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come to you and speak with you mouth to mouth, so that our joy may be full.
13 The sons of your elect sister
greet you.
Amen.
2 John
1599 Geneva Bible
The Second Epistle of John
1 This Epistle is written to a woman of great renown, 4 who brought up her children in the fear of God: 6 he exhorteth her to continue in Christian charity, 7 that she accompany not with Antichrists, 10 but avoid them.
1 The Elder to the [a]elect [b]Lady, and her children, [c]whom I love in the truth: and not I only, but also all that have known the truth,
2 For the truth’s sake which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever:
3 Grace be with you, mercy and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, with [d]truth and love.
4 [e]I rejoiced greatly, that I found of thy children walking in [f]truth, as we have received a commandment of the Father.
5 And now beseech I thee, Lady, (not as writing a new commandment unto thee, but the same which we had from the beginning) that we (A)love one another.
6 And this is that love that we should walk after his commandments. This commandment is, that as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
7 [g]For many deceivers are entered into this world, which confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. He that is such one, is a deceiver and an Antichrist.
8 [h][i]Look to yourselves, that we lose not the things, which we have done, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 [j]If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, (B)receive him not to house, neither bid him Godspeed.
11 For he that biddeth him Godspeed, is partaker of his evil deeds. Although I had many things to write unto you, yet would I not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.
12 The sons of thine elect sister greet thee, Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 John 1:1 This is no proper name, but to be taken as the word soundeth, that is to say to the worthy and noble Lady.
- 2 John 1:1 Excellent and honorable Dame.
- 2 John 1:1 The bond of Christian conjunction or linking together, is the true and constant profession of the truth.
- 2 John 1:3 With true knowledge, which hath always love joined with it, and following it.
- 2 John 1:4 This true profession consisteth both in love one toward another which the Lord hath commanded, and also especially in wholesome and sound doctrine, which also is delivered unto us: for the commandment of God is a sound and sure foundation both of the rule of manners and of doctrine, and these cannot be separated the one from the other.
- 2 John 1:4 According as the truth directeth them.
- 2 John 1:7 Antichrists fighting against the person and office of Christ, were already crept into the Church in the time of the Apostles.
- 2 John 1:8 He that maketh shipwreck of doctrine, loseth all.
- 2 John 1:8 Beware and take good heed.
- 2 John 1:10 We ought to have nothing to do with them that defend perverse doctrine.
2 John
Authorized (King James) Version
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.
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. 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.
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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.