King James Version
2 John 1
13 verses with commentary
Greeting
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;
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<strong>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.</strong> John identifies himself as "the elder" (Greek <em>presbyteros</em>, πρεσβύτερος), a title denoting both his advanced age and authoritative position in the early church. This humble self-designation contrasts with his apostolic authority, reflecting...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) A man so well-known to his correspondent that he only calls himself “the old man,” or, “the elder,” writes to a mother, whose name is possibly Kyria, and to her children. Her sister’s children are in the same place as the writer. The two mothers are both honoured with the religious title “elect.” The writer (we assume from the introduction that he is the Apostle John) loves the family with tru...
Read full commentary →For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
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<strong>For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.</strong> John explains why he loves the elect lady and her children: "for the truth's sake" (Greek <em>dia tēn alētheian</em>, διὰ τὴν ἀλήθειαν). This causal phrase reveals that Christian affection is not arbitrary or sentimental but grounded in objective reality—the truth of the gospel. The definite article "the" e...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 2
1Pe 2:1-25. Exhortations.
To guileless feeding on the word by the sense of their privileges as new-born babes, living stones in the spiritual temple built on Christ the chief corner-stone, and royal priests, in contrast to their former state: also to abstinence from fleshly lusts, and to walk worthily in all relations of life, so that the world without which opposes them may be cons...
Read full commentary →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. be: Gr. shall be
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<strong>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.</strong> John offers a triadic blessing: "grace, mercy, and peace"—divine gifts that encompass the fullness of Christian experience. <em>Grace</em> (Greek <em>charis</em>, χάρις) is God's unmerited favor, the foundation of salvation and source of spiritual ena...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**2. new-born babes--**altogether without "guile" (1Pe 2:1). As long as we are here we are "babes," in a specially tender relation to God (Is 40:11). The childlike spirit is indispensable if we would enter heaven. "Milk" is here not elementary truths in contradistinction to more advanced Christian truths, as in 1Co 3:2; He 5:12, 13; but in contrast to "guile, hypocrisies," &c. (1Pe 2:1); the s...
Read full commentary →Walking in Truth and Love
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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<strong>I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.</strong> John expresses profound joy (Greek <em>echarēn lian</em>, ἐχάρην λίαν, "I rejoiced greatly") at discovering "some of thy children walking in truth." The verb "walking" (Greek <em>peripatountas</em>, περιπατοῦντας) is a present participle indicating continuous, habit...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) St. John had lately had opportunity of observing bow some of the matron’s children proved their adherence to the truth by their daily conduct. Having congratulated her about this, he states the chief thing which he desires of her: the pure Christian love which implies every other grace and virtue; in other words, walking after the divine commandments. That this love should be pure, that these ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
3. Peter alludes to Psa 34:8. The first "tastes" of God's goodness are afterwards followed by fuller and happier experiences. A taste whets the appetite [Bengel].
**gracious--**Greek, "good," benignant, kind; as God is revealed to us in Christ, "the Lord" (1Pe 2:4), we who are born again ought so to be good and kind to the brethren (1Pe 1:22). "Whosoever has not tasted the word to him it is not ...
Read full commentary →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.
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<strong>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.</strong> John transitions from commendation to exhortation with "I beseech thee" (Greek <em>erōtō</em>, ἐρωτῶ), a term suggesting earnest request rather than authoritative command, reflecting pastoral sensitivity. He emphasizes that mutual lov...
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**4. coming--**drawing near (same Greek as here, He 10:22) by faith continually; present tense: not having come once for all at conversion.
**stone--**Peter (that is, a stone, named so by Christ) desires that all similarly should be living stones BUILT ON Christ, the true foundation-stone; compare his speech in Ac 4:11. An undesigned coincidence and mark of genuineness. The Spirit foreseeing the...
Read full commentary →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.
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<strong>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.</strong> John defines love not as emotion or sentiment but as obedience: "this is love, that we walk after his commandments" (Greek <em>autē estin hē agapē hina peripatōmen kata tas entolas autou</em>, αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη ἵνα περιπατῶμεν κατὰ τὰς ἐ...
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**5. Ye also, as lively stones--**partaking of the name and life which is in "THE Living Stone" (1Pe 2:4; 1Co 3:11). Many names which belong to Christ in the singular are assigned to Christians in the plural. He is "THE Son," "High Priest," "King," "Lamb"; they, "sons," "priests," "kings," "sheep," "lambs." So the Shulamite called from Solomon [Bengel].
**are built up--**Greek, "are being built ...
Read full commentary →Warning Against Deceivers
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.
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<strong>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.</strong> John identifies the urgent threat: "many deceivers are entered into the world" (Greek <em>polloi planoi exēlthon eis ton kosmon</em>, πολλοὶ πλάνοι ἐξῆλθον εἰς τὸν κόσμον). The word "deceivers" (<em>planoi</em>, πλάνοι) denotes those who lead...
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**6. Wherefore also--**The oldest manuscripts read, "Because that." The statement above is so "because it is contained in Scripture."
**Behold--**calling attention to the glorious announcement of His eternal counsel.
**elect--**so also believers (1Pe 2:9, "chosen," Greek, "elect generation").
**precious--**in Hebrew, Is 28:16, "a corner-stone of preciousness." See on Is 28:16. So in 1Pe 2:7,...
Read full commentary →Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. wrought: or, gained, some copies read, ye have gained, but that ye, etc.
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<strong>Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.</strong> John issues an urgent warning: "Look to yourselves" (Greek <em>blepete heautous</em>, βλέπετε ἑαυτούς), meaning "watch yourselves" or "take heed." The present imperative demands continuous vigilance. Believers must exercise constant spiritual alertness against deception, not...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
7. Application of the Scripture just quoted first to the believer, then to the unbeliever. On the opposite effects of the same Gospel on different classes, compare Joh 9:39; 2Co 2:15, 16.
**precious--**Greek, "THE preciousness" (1Pe 2:6). To you believers belongs the preciousness of Christ just mentioned.
**disobedient--**to the faith, and so disobedient in practice.
**the stone which ... he...
Read full commentary →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.
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<strong>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.</strong> John presents a stark contrast using his characteristic verb "abide" (Greek <em>menō</em>, μένω). "Whosoever transgresseth" (Greek <em>pas ho proagōn</em>, πᾶς ὁ προάγων) literally means "everyone going ahead" or "going b...
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**8. stone of stumbling, &c.--**quoted from Is 8:14. Not merely they stumbled, in that their prejudices were offended; but their stumbling implies the judicial punishment of their reception of Messiah; they hurt themselves in stumbling over the corner-stone, as "stumble" means in Jr 13:16; Da 11:19.
**at the word--**rather, join "being disobedient to the word"; so 1Pe 3:1; 4:17.
**whereunt...
Read full commentary →If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
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<strong>If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.</strong> John issues a controversial command: those who bring false doctrine about Christ should not be received into the house or greeted. "If there come any unto you" (Greek <em>ei tis erchetai pros hymas</em>, εἴ τις ἔρχεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς) refers to itinerant teachers who tra...
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9. Contrast in the privileges and destinies of believers. Compare the similar contrast with the preceding context.
**chosen--**"elect" of God, even as Christ your Lord is.
**generation--**implying the unity of spiritual origin and kindred of believers as a class distinct from the world.
**royal--**kingly. Believers, like Christ, the antitypical Melchisedec, are at once kings and priests. Isr...
Read full commentary →For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
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<strong>For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.</strong> John explains the rationale behind the previous command: "he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (Greek <em>ho legōn autō chairein koinōnei tois ergois autou tois ponērois</em>, ὁ λέγων αὐτῷ χαίρειν κοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς). The verb "is partaker" (<em>koinōnei</em>, κοινωνεῖ) m...
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10. Adapted from Ho 1:9, 10; 2:23. Peter plainly confirms Paul, who quotes the passage as implying the call of the Gentiles to become spiritually that which Israel had been literally, "the people of God." Primarily, the prophecy refers to literal Israel, hereafter to be fully that which in their best days they were only partially, God's people.
**not obtained mercy--**literally, "who were men no...
Read full commentary →Final Greetings
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. face to: Gr. mouth to mouth our: or, your
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<strong>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.</strong> John concludes by explaining his brevity: "Having many things to write" (Greek <em>polla echōn hymin graphein</em>, πολλὰ ἔχων ὑμῖν γράφειν) indicates he could say much more but chooses to wait for personal communication. "I wo...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) Conclusion (2John 1:12-13).
(12) **Having many things to write unto you.**—This verse shows that the Letter to the matron and her family was not a mere accompaniment of a copy of the First Epistle. His heart is full of things to write, but he hopes soon to have unlimited conversation.
**Paper.**—The Egyptian *papyrus.*
**Ink.**—A mixture of soot, water, and gum. The papyrus-tree grows in the s...
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11. As heretofore he exhorted them to walk worthily of their calling, in contradistinction to their own former walk, so now he exhorts them to glorify God before unbelievers.
**Dearly beloved--**He gains their attention to his exhortation by assuring them of his love.
**strangers and pilgrims--**(1Pe 1:17). Sojourners, literally, settlers having a house in a city without being citizens in resp...
Read full commentary →The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
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<strong>The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.</strong> John concludes with greetings from "the children of thy elect sister" (Greek <em>ta tekna tēs adelphēs sou tēs eklektēs</em>, τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου τῆς ἐκλεκτῆς). This likely refers to members of the church from which John writes, sending greetings to the church he addresses. The consistent metaphor (elect lady and elect sister...
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**12. conversation--**"behavior"; "conduct." There are two things in which "strangers and pilgrims" ought to bear themselves well: (1) the conversation or conduct, as subjects (1Pe 2:13), servants (1Pe 2:18), wives (1Pe 3:1), husbands (1Pe 3:7), all persons under all circumstances (1Pe 2:8); (2) confession of the faith (1Pe 3:15, 16). Each of the two is derived from the will of God. Our conversati...
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