2 John
English Standard Version
Greeting
1 (A)The elder to the elect lady and her children, (B)whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who (C)know (D)the truth, 2 (E)because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 (F)Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.
Walking in Truth and Love
4 (G)I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—(H)not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—(I)that we love one another. 6 And (J)this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just (K)as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For (L)many deceivers (M)have gone out into the world, (N)those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, (O)so that you may not lose what we[a] have worked for, but (P)may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, (Q)does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching (R)has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, (S)do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him (T)takes part in his wicked works.
Final Greetings
12 (U)Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. (V)Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, (W)so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
Footnotes
- 2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts you
2 John
International Children’s Bible
Do Not Help False Teachers
1 From the Elder.[a]
To the chosen lady[b] and to her children:
I love all of you in the truth.[c] Also, all those who know the truth love you. 2 We love you because of the truth—the truth that lives in us and will be with us forever.
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from his Son, Jesus Christ. And may we have these blessings in truth and love.
4 I was very happy to learn about some of your children. I am happy that they are following the way of truth, as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I tell you: We should all love each other. This is not a new command. It is the same command we have had from the beginning. 6 And loving means living the way he commanded us to live. And God’s command is this: that you live a life of love. You have heard this command from the beginning.
7 Many false teachers are in the world now. They refuse to say that Jesus Christ came to earth and became a man. Anyone who refuses to say this is a false teacher and an enemy of Christ. 8 Be careful! Do not lose the reward that you[d] have worked for. Be careful, so that you will receive your full reward.
9 A person must continue to follow only the teaching of Christ. If he goes beyond Christ’s teaching, then he does not have God. But if he continues following the teaching of Christ, then he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If someone comes to you, but does not bring this teaching, then do not accept him into your house. Do not welcome him. 11 If you accept him, you are helping him with his evil work.
12 I have much to say to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come visit you. Then we can be together and talk. That will make us very happy. 13 The children of your chosen sister[e] send you their love.
Footnotes
- 1 Elder This is probably John the apostle. “Elder” means an older man. It can also mean a special leader in the church (as in Titus 1:5).
- 1 lady This might mean a woman. Or, in this letter, it might mean a church. If it is a church, then “her children” would be the people of the church.
- 1 truth The truth or “Good News” about Jesus Christ that joins all believers together.
- 8 you Some Greek copies read “we.”
- 13 sister Sister of the “lady” in verse 1. This might be another woman or another church.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
