1Der ÄltesteG4245 der auserwähltenG1588 FrauG2959 undG2532 ihrenG846 KindernG5043, dieG3739 ichG1473 liebeG25 inG1722 der WahrheitG225; undG2532 nichtG3756 ichG1473 alleinG3441, sondernG235 auchG2532 alleG3956, welche die WahrheitG225 erkanntG1097 haben, 2umG1223 der WahrheitG225 willenG1223, dieG3588 inG1722 unsG2254 bleibtG3306 undG2532 mitG3326 unsG2257 seinG2071 wird inG1519 EwigkeitG165. 3Es wirdG2071 mitG3326 euchG5216 seinG2071 GnadeG5485, BarmherzigkeitG1656, FriedeG1515 vonG3844 GottG2316, dem VaterG3962, undG2532 vonG3844 dem HerrnG2962 JesuG2424 ChristoG5547, dem SohneG5207 des VatersG3962, inG1722 WahrheitG225 undG2532 LiebeG26. 4Ich freuteG5463 mich sehrG3029, daßG3754 ich einige vonG1537 deinenG4675 KindernG5043 inG1722 der WahrheitG225 wandelndG4043 gefundenG2147 habe, wieG2531 wir vonG3844 dem VaterG3962 ein GebotG1785 empfangenG2983 haben. 5UndG2532 nunG3568 bitteG2065 ich dichG4571, FrauG2959, nichtG3756 als obG5613 ich ein neuesG2537 GebotG1785 dirG4671 schriebeG1125, sondernG235 das, welchesG3739 wir vonG575 AnfangG746 gehabt habenG2192: daßG2443 wir einanderG240 liebenG25 sollen. 6UndG2532 diesG3778 istG2076 die LiebeG26, daßG2443 wir nachG2596 seinenG846 GebotenG1785 wandelnG4043. DiesG3778 istG2076 das GebotG1785, wieG531 ihr vonG575 AnfangG746 gehörtG191 habt, daßG2443 ihr darinG1722 G846 wandelnG4043 sollt. 7DennG3754 vieleG4183 VerführerG4108 sindG1525 inG1519 die WeltG2889 ausgegangenG1525, dieG3588 nichtG3361 JesumG2424 ChristumG5547 imG1722 FleischeG4561 kommendG2064 bekennenG3670; diesG3778 istG2076 der VerführerG4108 undG2532 der AntichristG500. 8SehetG991 auf euch selbstG1438, auf daß wir nichtG3363 verlierenG622, wasG3739 wir erarbeitetG2038 haben, sondernG235 vollenG4134 LohnG3408 empfangenG618. 9JederG3956, der weitergehtG3845 undG2532 nichtG3361 bleibtG3306 inG1722 der LehreG1322 des ChristusG5547, hatG2192 GottG2316 nichtG3756; wer inG1722 der LehreG1322 bleibtG3306, dieserG3778 hatG2192 sowohlG2532 den VaterG3962 als auchG2532 den SohnG5207. 10WennG1536 jemandG5100 zuG4314 euchG5209 kommtG2064 undG2532 dieseG5026 LehreG1322 nichtG3756 bringtG5342, so nehmetG2983 ihnG846 nichtG3361 insG1519 HausG3614 aufG2983 undG2532 grüßetG3004 G5463 ihnG846 nichtG3361 . 11DennG1063 wer ihnG846 grüßtG3004 G5463, nimmt teilG2841 an seinenG846 bösenG4190 WerkenG2041. 12Da ich euchG5213 vielesG4183 zu schreibenG1125 habeG2192, wollteG1014 ich es nichtG3756 mitG1223 PapierG5489 undG2532 TinteG3188 tunG1014, sondernG235 ich hoffeG1679, zuG4314 euchG5209 zu kommenG2064 undG2532 mündlichG4750 mitG4314 euchG4750 zu redenG2980, auf daßG2443 unsereG2257 FreudeG5479 völligG4137 seiG5600. 13Es grüßenG782 dichG4571 die KinderG5043 deinerG4675 auserwähltenG1588 SchwesterG79.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 The elder--In a familiar letter John gives himself a less authoritative designation than "apostle"; so
1Pet 5:1.
lady--BENGEL takes the Greek as a proper name Kyria, answering to the Hebrew "Martha." Being a person of influence, "deceivers" (
2John 1:7) were insinuating themselves into her family to seduce her and her children from the faith [TIRINUS], whence John felt it necessary to write a warning to her. (But see my Introduction and
1Pet 5:13). A particular Church, probably that at Babylon, was intended. "Church" is derived from Greek "Kuriake," akin to Kuria, or Kyria here; the latter word among the Romans and Athenians means the same as ecclesia, the term appropriated to designate the Church assembly.
love in the truth--Christian love rests on the Christian truth (
2John 1:3, end). Not merely "I love in truth," but "I love in THE truth."
all--All Christians form one fellowship, rejoicing in the spiritual prosperity of one another. "The communion of love is as wide as the communion of faith" [ALFORD].
2 For the truth's sake--joined with "I love,"
2John 1:1. "They who love in the truth, also love on account of the truth."
dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever--in consonance with Christ's promise.
3 Grace be with you--One of the oldest manuscripts and several versions have "us" for you. The Greek is literally, "Grace shall be with us," that is, with both you and me. A prayer, however, is implied besides a confident affirmation.
grace . . . mercy . . . peace--"Grace" covers the sins of men; "mercy," their miseries. Grace must first do away with man's guilt before his misery can be relieved by mercy. Therefore grace stands before mercy. Peace is the result of both, and therefore stands third in order. Casting all our care on the Lord, with thanksgiving, maintains this peace.
the Lord--The oldest manuscripts and most of the oldest versions omit "the Lord." John never elsewhere uses this title in his Epistles, but "the Son of God."
in truth and love--The element or sphere in which alone grace, mercy, and peace, have place. He mentions truth in
2John 1:4; love, in
2John 1:5. Paul uses FAITH and love; for faith and truth are close akin.
4 I found--probably in one of his missionary tours of superintendence. See Introduction, at the end, and
2John 1:12;
3John 1:10,
3John 1:14.
of thy children--some.
in truth--that is, in the Gospel truth.
as--even as. "The Father's commandment" is the standard of "the truth."
5 I beseech--rather (compare Note, see on
1John 5:16), "I request thee," implying some degree of authority.
not . . . new commandment--It was old in that Christians heard it from the first in the Gospel preaching; new, in that the Gospel rested love on the new principle of filial imitation of God who first loved us, and gave Jesus to die for us; and also, in that love is now set forth with greater clearness than in the Old Testament dispensation. Love performs both tables of the law, and is the end of the law and the Gospel alike (compare Notes, see on
1John 2:7-8).
that we--implying that he already had love, and urging her to join him in the same Christian grace. This verse seems to me to decide that a Church, not an individual lady, is meant. For a man to urge a woman ("THEE"; not thee and thy children) that he and she should love one another, is hardly like an apostolic precept, however pure may be the love enjoined; but all is clear if "the lady" represent a Church.
6 "Love is the fulfilling of the law" (
Rom 13:10), and the fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love.
This is the commandment--Greek, "The commandment is this," namely, love, in which all God's other commandments are summed up.
7 As love and truth go hand in hand (
2John 1:3-4), he feels it needful to give warning against teachers of untruth.
For--giving the reason why he dwelt on truth and on love, which manifests itself in keeping God's commandments (
2John 1:6).
many-- (
1John 2:18;
1John 4:1).
are entered--The oldest manuscripts read, "have gone forth," namely, from us.
confess not . . . Jesus . . . in the flesh--the token of Antichrist.
is come--Greek, "coming." He who denies Christ's coming in the flesh, denies the possibility of the incarnation; he who denies that he has come, denies its actuality. They denied the possibility of a Messiah's appearing, or coming, in the flesh [NEANDER]. I think the Greek present participle implies both the first and the second advent of Christ. He is often elsewhere called the Coming One (Greek),
Matt 11:3;
Heb 10:37. The denial of the reality of His manifestation in the flesh, at His first coming, and of His personal advent again, constitutes Antichrist. "The world turns away from God and Christ, busily intent upon its own husks; but to OPPOSE God and Christ is of the leaven of Satan" [BENGEL].
This is a, &c.--Greek, "This (such a one as has been just described) is the deceiver and the Antichrist." The many who in a degree fulfil the character, are forerunners of the final personal Antichrist, who shall concentrate in himself all the features of previous Antichristian systems.
8 Look to yourselves--amidst the widespread prevalence of deception so many being led astray. So Christ's warning,
Matt 24:4-
Matt 24:5,
Matt 24:24.
we lose not . . . we receive--The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "That YE lose not, but that YE receive."
which we have wrought--So one oldest manuscript reads. Other very old manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read, "which YE have wrought." The we being seemingly the more difficult reading is less likely to have been a transcriber's alteration. Look that ye lose not the believing state of "truth and love," which WE (as God's workmen,
2Cor 6:1;
2Tim 2:15) were the instruments of working in you.
a full reward--of grace not of debt. Fully consummated glory. If "which YE have wrought" be read with very old authorities, the reward meant is that of their "work (of faith) and labor of love." There are degrees of heavenly reward proportioned to the degrees of capability of receiving heavenly blessedness. Each vessel of glory hanging on Jesus shall be fully happy. But the larger the vessel, the greater will be its capacity for receiving heavenly bliss. He who with one pound made ten, received authority over ten cities. He who made five pounds received five cities; each according to his capacity of rule, and in proportion to his faithfulness. Compare
1Cor 15:41. "There is no half reward of the saints. It is either lost altogether, or received in full; in full communion with God" [BENGEL]. Still no service of minister or people shall fail to receive its reward.
9 The loss (
2John 1:8) meant is here explained: the not having God, which results from abiding not in the doctrine of Christ.
transgresseth--The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "Every one who takes the lead"; literally, "goes," or "leads on before"; compare
John 10:4, "He goeth before them" (not the same Greek). Compare
3John 1:9, "Loveth to have the pre-eminence."
hath not God-- (
1John 2:23;
1John 5:15). The second "of Christ" is omitted in the oldest manuscripts, but is understood in the sense.
He--emphatical: He and He alone.
10 If there come any--as a teacher or brother. The Greek is indicative, not subjunctive; implying that such persons do actually come, and are sure to come; when any comes, as there will. True love is combined with hearty renunciation and separation from all that is false, whether persons or doctrines.
receive him not . . . neither bid him God speed--This is not said of those who were always aliens from the Church, but of those who wish to be esteemed brethren, and subvert the true doctrine [GROTIUS]. The greeting salutation forbidden in the case of such a one is that usual among Christian brethren in those days, not a mere formality, but a token of Christian brotherhood.
11 By wishing a false brother or teacher "God (or 'good') speed," you imply that he is capable as such of good speed and joy (the literal meaning of the Greek), and that you wish him it while opposing Christ; so you identify yourself with "his evil deeds." The Greek of "partaker" is "having communion with." We cannot have communion with saints and with Antichrist at the same time. Here we see John's naturally fiery zeal directed to a right end. POLYCARP, the disciple of John, told contemporaries of IRENĆUS, who narrates the story on their authority, that on one occasion when John was about to bathe, and heard that Cerinthus, the heretic, was within, he retired with abhorrence, exclaiming, Surely the house will fall in ruins since the enemy of the truth is there.
12 I would not write--A heart full of love pours itself out more freely face to face, than by letter.
paper--made of Egyptian papyrus. Pens were then reeds split.
ink--made of soot and water, thickened with gum. Parchment was used for the permanent manuscripts in which the Epistles were preserved. Writing tablets were used merely for temporary purposes, as our slates.
face to face--literally, "mouth to mouth."
full--Greek, "filled full." Your joy will be complete in hearing from me in person the joyful Gospel truths which I now defer communicating till I see you. On other occasions his writing the glad truths was for the same purpose.
13 ALFORD confesses that the non-mention of the "lady" herself here seems rather to favor the hypothesis that a Church is meant.