1The 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;
2For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
3Grace 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.
4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7For 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.
8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9Whosoever 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.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
12Having 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.
13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
Understand This
2 John 1, explained
What 2 John 1 is saying
The 'elder' writes to the 'elect lady and her children,' commanding love in accordance with truth and warning against deceivers who deny Jesus Christ's coming in the flesh. Anyone who 'runs ahead' (proagōn) beyond the teaching of Christ does not have God; adherence to the apostolic teaching ensures fellowship with both Father and Son. The letter prohibits extending hospitality to those who bring a different gospel, as welcoming them constitutes participation in their evil work.
The background behind it
The 'elect lady' (eklektē kyria) is most likely a personification of a local church community, though some scholars have argued for an actual individual. The letter's brevity corresponds to the typical length of a single papyrus sheet. The prohibition against hospitality must be understood within the ancient system of itinerant teachers who depended on community housing and thereby gained implicit endorsement.
Themes running underneath
Truth and love are inseparable in Johannine theology: love operates 'in truth,' and truth is the boundary within which love functions. The christological litmus test mirrors 1 John 4:2-3, maintaining the incarnation as the non-negotiable criterion of authentic faith. The 'running ahead' warning critiques progressive theology that abandons foundational doctrine under the guise of advancement.
Why it still matters
Hospitality in the ancient world was not merely social courtesy but implied endorsement and partnership. The letter raises the difficult but necessary question of where doctrinal boundaries appropriately limit fellowship, particularly when core christological truths are at stake.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.