2 John
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth[a]— and not only I, but also all the ones having known the truth— 2 because-of [b] the truth abiding in us. And it will be with us forever. 3 Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, will be with us in[c] truth and love.
I Rejoiced To Find You Walking In The Truth. Be Loving One Another
4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in the truth, just as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And now I ask you, lady— not as-if writing you a new commandment, but the one which we had from the beginning— that we be loving one another. 6 And this is love: that we be walking according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you[d] all heard from the beginning, that you should be walking in it.
Because There Are Many Deceivers. Watch Out, And Abide In The Teaching of Christ
7 Because many deceivers went-out into the world— the ones not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Be watching yourselves in order that you[e] may not lose[f] the things which we[g] accomplished, but may receive a full reward. 9 Everyone going-ahead[h] and not abiding in the teaching of Christ does not have God; the one abiding in the teaching— this one has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you[i] and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into the house[j] and do not speak greetings to him. 11 For the one speaking greetings to him shares in his evil works.
12 Having many things to write to you[k] all, I did not want to do so with paper and ink. But I hope to come-to-be with you and to speak mouth to mouth, in order that our joy may be full. 13 The children of your chosen sister greet you[l].
Footnotes
- 2 John 1:1 in truth. Or, in the truth, in-connection-with the truth.
- 2 John 1:2 Or, for-the-sake-of.
- 2 John 1:3 That is, in the sphere of; in connection with.
- 2 John 1:6 you... you. This is plural. John turns from addressing the lady in v 5, to them all.
- 2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts say ‘we’.
- 2 John 1:8 Or, ruin, waste.
- 2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts say ‘you’.
- 2 John 1:9 Or, leading-forth, advancing.
- 2 John 1:10 This is plural.
- 2 John 1:10 That is, the church in your house.
- 2 John 1:12 This is plural both times in this verse.
- 2 John 1:13 This is singular.
2 John
Expanded Bible
Do Not Help False Teachers
1 From the ·Elder [or old man; C Greek: presbyteros, referring to advanced age, a church office, or both; 1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1; see 3 John 1].
To the ·chosen [elect] lady [C most likely a metaphor for a church] and her children [C the members of that church]:
I love all of you in the truth [C the truth about the Gospel of Jesus Christ], and all those who know the truth love you. 2 We love you because of the truth that ·lives [abides; remains] in us and will be with us forever.
3 Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, will be with us in truth and love.
4 I ·was very happy [rejoiced greatly] to learn that some of your children are ·following the way of [living by; L walking in] truth [C living as the Gospel requires], as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, this is not a new command [L I am writing] but is the same command we have had from the beginning. I ask you that we all love each other. 6 And ·love means [L this is love:] ·living the way God commanded us to live [L walking according to his commands]. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is this: ·Live a life of love [L You must walk in it; C that is, in love; Rom. 13:1–10].
7 [L For] Many ·false teachers [deceivers] ·are in [L have gone out into] the world now [Mark 13:5–6, 22] who do not confess that Jesus Christ came to earth ·as a human [T in the flesh]. Anyone who does not confess this is ·a false teacher [L the deceiver] and ·an enemy of Christ [L the antichrist; C one who radically opposes Christ; 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3]. 8 ·Be careful [Watch] yourselves that you do not lose everything you[a] have worked for, but that you receive your full reward.
9 Anyone who ·goes beyond [runs ahead of] Christ’s teaching and does not ·continue to follow only his teaching [L abide/remain in it] does not have God. But whoever ·continues to follow [L abides/remains in] ·the teaching of Christ [L the teaching] has both the Father and the Son. 10 If someone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not ·greet [welcome] that person or ·accept [receive] them into your house. 11 If you welcome such a person, you ·share [participate] in the evil work.
12 I have many things to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to ·come to [visit] you and talk face to face so ·we can be full of joy [our joy can be complete]. 13 The children of your ·chosen [elect] sister [see 1:1; C probably refers to another church] greet you [3 John 13–14].
Footnotes
- 2 John 1:8 you Some Greek copies read “we.”
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.