English: unfoldingWord® Translation Notes

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2 John

2 John front

Introduction to 2 John

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the Book of 2 John
  1. Opening of letter (1:1-3)
  2. Encouragement and the commandment to love one another (1:4-6)
  3. Warning about false teachers (1:7–11)
  4. Closing of letter (1:12-13)
Who wrote the Book of 2 John?

The author of this letter identifies himself only as “the Elder.” However, the content of 2 John is similar to the content in John’s Gospel. This suggests that the Apostle John probably wrote this letter, and he would have done so near the end of his life.

To whom was the Book of 2 John written?

The author addresses this letter to someone he calls “the chosen lady” and to “her children” (1:1). This could refer to a specific woman and her children. Or it could refer figuratively to a specific group of believers. (See: Metaphor)

What is the Book of 2 John about?

John addressed this letter to someone he called “the chosen lady” and to “her children” (1:1). This could refer to a specific friend and her children. Or it could refer to a specific group of believers or to believers in general. John’s purpose in writing this letter was to warn his audience about false teachers. John did not want believers helping or giving money to false teachers. (See: Metaphor)

How should the title of this book be translated?

Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, “2 John” or “Second John.” Or they may choose a different title, such as “The Second Letter from John” or “The Second Letter John Wrote.” (See: How to Translate Names)

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

What is hospitality?

Hospitality was an important concept in the ancient Near East. It was important to be friendly towards foreigners or outsiders and provide help to them if they needed it. John wanted believers to offer hospitality to guests. However, he did not want believers to offer hospitality to false teachers.

Who were the people John spoke against?

The people John spoke against were possibly those who would become known as Gnostics. These people believed that the physical world was evil. Since they believed Jesus was divine, they denied that he was truly human. This is because they thought God would not become human if the physical body were evil. (See: evil, wicked, unpleasant)

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

What are the major textual issues in the text of the Book of 2 John?
In 1:12, most modern versions of the Bible read “our joy.” There is another traditional reading that says “your joy.” If a version of the Bible already exists in your region, you should consider using the reading of that version in your translation. If not, you may wish to follow the reading that most modern versions prefer and say “our joy.” (See: Textual Variants)

2 John 1

2 John 1:1

ὁ πρεσβύτερος

In this culture, letter writers would give their own names first. Your language may have a particular way of introducing the author of a letter, and if it would be helpful to your readers, you could use it here. Alternate translation: “I, the elder, am writing this letter”

ὁ πρεσβύτερος

This likely means John, the apostle and disciple of Jesus. He refers to himself as “elder” either because of his old age or because he is a leader in the church. Alternate translation: “I, John, am writing this letter” or Alternate translation: “I, John the elder, am writing this letter” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς

In this culture, letter writers would name the addressees next. Your language may have a particular way of introducing the person who receives a letter, and if it would be helpful to your readers, you could use it here. Alternate translation: “to you, chosen lady, and to your children”

ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ

This could mean one of two things. (1) John may be writing to a specific woman and referring to her respectfully as lady. (2) John may be writing to a congregation and figuratively describing the group of believers as a lady. Alternate translation: “to the chosen group of believers” (See: Metaphor)

ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ

In this context, the term chosen likely indicates someone whom God has chosen to receive salvation. Alternate translation: “to the Christian lady” or “to the group of believers in Jesus” (See: Idiom)

κυρίᾳ

Some interpreters understand this to be a proper name. Alternate translation: “Kyria” (See: How to Translate Names)

καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς

This could mean one of three things. (1) If this letter is addressed to an actual woman, it could mean her biological children. (2) John may be referring figuratively to people whom the woman has led to faith as her spiritual children. Alternate translation: “and the people whom she has led to faith in Jesus” (3) This could be referring figuratively to the people who are part of a congregation. Alternate translation: “and the believers in that group” (For the second and third possibilities, see: Metaphor)

ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun truth with an equivalent expression. This could mean one of two things. (1) The phrase the truth describes how John loves. Alternate translation: “truly love” (2) The phrase the truth provides the reason for John’s love. Alternate translation: “love because we both know the truth” (See: Abstract Nouns)

πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τὴν ἀλήθειαν

John uses the phrase all who have known the truth to refer to believers who know and accept the true message about Jesus Christ. John is most likely using the term all as a generalization to mean all the believers who are with him and who know the lady. Alternate translation: “all who are with me who know the truth” (See: Hyperbole)

2 John 1:2

τὴν ἀλήθειαν

John uses the abstract noun truth to refer to the true message that Christians believe. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind this term with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “the true message” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἡμῖν…ἡμῶν

If your language marks this distinction, the pronoun us would be inclusive here and throughout the epistle, because John always uses it to refer to himself and to “the lady” and “her children.” The pronoun “we” would also be inclusive for that same reason, as would the pronoun “our,” if you choose to use it in your translation. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “for all time” (See: Idiom)

2 John 1:3

ἔσται μεθ’ ἡμῶν χάρις, ἔλεος, εἰρήνη, παρὰ Θεοῦ Πατρός καὶ παρὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract nouns grace, mercy, and peace with verbal phrases, with God the Father and Jesus Christ as the subject. Alternate translation: “May God the Father and Jesus Christ …show us kindness, be merciful to us, and give us peace” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἔσται μεθ’ ἡμῶν χάρις, ἔλεος, εἰρήνη

In this culture, letter writers would offer a good wish for the recipients before introducing the main business of the letter. Alternate translation: “May grace, mercy, and peace be with us” (See: INVALID translate/translate-blessing)

ἔσται μεθ’ ἡμῶν χάρις, ἔλεος, εἰρήνη

John is using a declarative statement to express a wish. Alternate translation: “May grace, mercy, and peace be with us” (See: Statements – Other Uses)

Πατρός…Υἱοῦ

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus Christ. (See: Translating Son and Father)

ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγάπῃ

The abstract nouns truth and love describe qualities of God the Father and Jesus Christ. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the ideas behind these abstract nouns with adjectives. Alternative translation: “who are truthful and loving” (See: Abstract Nouns)

2 John 1:4

τῶν τέκνων σου

See how you translated the term children in in 1:1. This could mean one of three things. (1) If this letter is addressed to an actual woman, it could mean her biological children. (2) It could mean the spiritual children of the lady. Alternate translation: “the people whom you have led to faith in Jesus” (3) This could be referring to a congregation and the people who are part of it. Alternate translation: “the believers in your group” (For the second and third possibilities, see: Metaphor)

σου

The word your is singular, since John is addressing the “lady.” (See: Forms of You)

περιπατοῦντας ἐν ἀληθείᾳ

John refers figuratively to living one’s life with the expression walking. Alternate translation: “living your life according to the truth” (See: Metaphor)

καθὼς ἐντολὴν ἐλάβομεν παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός

The expression received a commandment expresses the idea that God commanded them to do something. If it would be clearer in your language, you could make the Father the subject of a sentence with the verb command. Alternate translation: “just as the Father has commanded us”

τοῦ Πατρός

This is an important title for God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

2 John 1:5

σε,…σοι

These instances of you are singular, since John is addressing the “lady.” (See: Forms of You)

οὐχ ὡς ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφων σοι

John does not refer to himself explicitly as the person writing. If your language requires you to state the subject of a verb, you could add a pronoun here. Alternate translation: “not as though I were writing you a new commandment”

ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς

The phrase from the beginning refers to the time when John and his audience first believed in Jesus Christ. Alternate translation: “since we first believed” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους

If it would be clearer in your language, you could create a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “beginning. He commanded that we should love one another”

2 John 1:6

περιπατῶμεν κατὰ…ἐν…περιπατῆτε

In these instances the expression walk figuratively means to “obey.” Alternate translation: “we should obey…you should obey them” (See: Metaphor)

ἠκούσατε…περιπατῆτε

The term you is plural in this verse and throughout the rest of the epistle, except for in v. 13, since John is addressing both “the lady” and her “children”. (See: Forms of You)

2 John 1:7

ὅτι πολλοὶ πλάνοι ἐξῆλθαν εἰς τὸν κόσμον

This seems to be an implicit reference to the false teachers whom John discusses in 1:10–11. Alternate translation: “For many deceivers are going around from place to place teaching” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐρχόμενον ἐν σαρκί

The expression coming in flesh is a metonym for being a real, physical person and not only a spiritual being. Alternate translation: “that Jesus Christ came as a real human” (See: Metonymy)(See: Metonymy)

ὁ ἀντίχριστος

The term antichrist refers to someone who opposes the true message about Christ and, as a result, is against Jesus himself and his followers. Alternate translation: “the one who is against Christ” or “the one who opposes Christ”

2 John 1:8

βλέπετε ἑαυτούς

The implication is that that the believers are to watch themselves, that is, be careful, not to be deceived by the deceivers and antichrists. Alternate translation: “be careful not to let the deceivers and antichrists influence you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

2 John 1:9

πᾶς ὁ προάγων καὶ μὴ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ

John refers to the teaching of Christ figuratively as a place where faithful believers remain and also as a place that false teachers leave as they go ahead. The expression goes ahead refers to teaching new and false things that Jesus did not teach. Alternate translation: “everyone who teaches things that Jesus did not teach” (See: Metaphor)

Θεὸν οὐκ ἔχει

To have God means to have a relationship with God as Savior through faith in Jesus Christ. Alternate translation: “does not belong to God” or “does not have a relationship with God”

ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ, οὗτος καὶ τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν ἔχει

Alternate translation: “Someone who follows Christ’s teaching belongs to both the Father and the Son”

οὗτος

John is using the demonstrative adjective this as a noun, to refer to a kind of person. ULT indicates this by adding the word “one.” If your language does not use adjectives this way, you can translate this with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “such a person” or “that kind of person” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus Christ. (See: Translating Son and Father)

2 John 1:10

μὴ λαμβάνετε αὐτὸν εἰς οἰκίαν

John does not want the believers to accept a false teacher into their home and, as a result, show him respect and provide for his needs by feeding and housing him. Alternate translation: “do not support him by welcoming him into your home” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

χαίρειν αὐτῷ μὴ λέγετε

John warns the believers not to greet a false teacher respectfully in public. The implication is that he does not want them to do anything that might give a false teacher good standing in the eyes of others. Alternate translation: “do not give him a respectful public greeting” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

2 John 1:11

ὁ λέγων…αὐτῷ χαίρειν

Alternate translation: “the one who gives him a respectful public greeting”

κοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς

The verb shares in expresses the concept of assisting and helping advance the activity of the false teacher. Alternate translation: “takes part in his evil deeds” or “helps him in his evil deeds”

2 John 1:12

οὐκ ἐβουλήθην διὰ χάρτου καὶ μέλανος

Here John leaves out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could supply these words from earlier in the sentence. Alternate translation: “I did not want to write these things with paper and ink” (See: Ellipsis)(See: Ellipsis)

διὰ χάρτου καὶ μέλανος

John is not saying that he would rather write these things with something other than paper and ink. Rather, he is speaking figuratively of those writing materials to represent writing in general. He means that he wants to visit the woman and her children personally and continue his communication with them directly. Alternate translation: “I did not want to communicate these things in writing” (See: Metonymy)

στόμα πρὸς στόμα λαλῆσαι

The expression mouth to mouth is an idiom, meaning to speak in their presence. Alternate translation: “speak in your presence” or “speak to you in person” (See: Idiom)

ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πεπληρωμένη ᾖ

If it would be clearer in your language, you could say this with an active verbal form. Alternate translation: “so that this will make your joy complete” (See: Active or Passive)

ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πεπληρωμένη ᾖ

If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun joy with an adjective such as “joyful.” Alternate translation: “so that this will make you completely joyful” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πεπληρωμένη ᾖ

See the note in Part 3 of the General Introduction to 2 John about the textual issue here. Alternate translation: “our joy might be made complete” (See: Textual Variants)

2 John 1:13

ἀσπάζεταί σε τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου τῆς ἐκλεκτῆς

As was customary in this culture, John concludes the letter by extending greetings from people who are with him and who know the people he is writing to. Your language may have a particular way of sharing greetings in a letter. If so, you can use it in your translation.

τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου

This expression could mean one of several things. (1) It may refer to the biological children of a specific woman who is the biological sister of another specific woman to whom John is writing. Alternate translation: “Your nieces and nephews” (2) It may refer to the spiritual children of the biological sister of a woman to whom John is writing. Alternate translation: “The people whom your sister has led to faith in Jesus” (3) It may refer to the biological children of a spiritual sister of a woman to whom John is writing. Alternate translation: “The children of your sister in Christ” (4) It may refer to the spiritual children of a spiritual sister of a woman to whom John is writing. Alternate translation: “The people whom your sister in Christ has led to faith in Jesus” (5) If the term “lady” is figurative for a group of believers in 1:1, then John may be figuratively describing his own group of believers as the sister of that group and the members of his group as her children. Alternate translation: “the members of the group of believers here” (For the second through fifth possibilities, see: Metaphor)

ἀδελφῆς σου τῆς ἐκλεκτῆς

In this context, the term chosen likely indicates someone whom God has chosen to receive salvation. Alternate translation: “your Christian sister” or “this group of believers in Jesus” (See: Idiom)

σε…σου

The pronouns you and your are singular. John tells the lady specifically that her sister’s children send greetings to her in particular. (See: Forms of You)