King James Version
2 John
2 John in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of 2 John: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | The elder, traditionally John the apostle. Eusebius notes doubt whether the writer is the evangelist or another John. |
|---|---|
| Date | AD 85–100 in one survey. |
| Place written | Not named. Ephesus, Turkey, is traditional. |
| Genre | A brief personal letter. |
| Chapters | 1 |
| Verses | 13 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | 2 John 1:62 John 1:6 · King James VersionAnd 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.2 John 1:6 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
2 John 1:12 John 1:1 · King James VersionThe 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;
2 John 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) names the elder writing to the elect lady and her children. Eusebius, in 3.25.3, lists the second and third of John among the disputed books, whether they belong to the evangelist or to another of the same name. (2) Origen says not all accept them. (3) The Muratorian fragment counts two epistles of John among received books. (4) Athanasius lists three. (5) The style and the warning about deceivers who deny Christ come in the flesh, in 2 John 1:72 John 1:7 · King James VersionFor 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.
2 John 1:7 · King James VersionOpen the Source, match 1 John closely.
Who It Is Not
The elect lady is the recipient. Many read her as a church, others as a woman. This page does not choose.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives AD 85–100. (6)
Audience and Setting
The elect lady and her children, probably a local church. The purpose is to urge love and to refuse hospitality to teachers who deny the incarnation.
Rulers at the Time
The letter names no ruler. This page adds none.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| The letter | AD 85–100 in one survey. (6) |
| Planned visit | The elder hopes to come and speak face to face. 2 John 1:122 John 1:12 · King James VersionHaving 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.2 John 1:12 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Places in This Book
The letter names no places.
What Is Happening
2 John 1:1–32 John 1:1–3 · King James Version1:1 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;
1:2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
1:3 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.
2 John 1:1–3 · King James VersionOpen the Source greet in truth and love. 2 John 1:4–62 John 1:4–6 · King James Version1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
1:5 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.
1:6 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.
2 John 1:4–6 · King James VersionOpen the Source urge walking in love. 2 John 1:7–112 John 1:7–11 · King James Version1:7 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.
1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
1:9 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.
1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
2 John 1:7–11 · King James VersionOpen the Source warn against deceivers. 2 John 1:12–132 John 1:12–13 · King James Version1:12 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.
1:13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
2 John 1:12–13 · King James VersionOpen the Source close with a planned visit.
Key Themes
Truth and love together in 2 John 1:32 John 1:3 · King James VersionGrace 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.
2 John 1:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Abiding in the teaching of Christ in 2 John 1:92 John 1:9 · King James VersionWhosoever 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.
2 John 1:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
The identity of the elder is the main question, stated above.
How the Book Points to Christ
2 John 1:32 John 1:3 · King James VersionGrace 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.
2 John 1:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source names grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. 2 John 1:92 John 1:9 · King James VersionWhosoever 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.
2 John 1:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source says whoever abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus contains 2 John. (7)
Canon Reception
Disputed by some in Eusebius’s day, listed in the Muratorian fragment, and received by Athanasius’s time. (2) (4) (5)
Further Reading
References
- Second Epistle of John, 1:1; 1:7; 1:122 John 1:1 · King James Version
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;
2 John 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Church History, Book 3, 3.25.3Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen the Source (Eusebius, Church History 3.3, 3.24–25, and 3.39, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent. Chapter 25 sorts books into acknowledged, disputed, and rejected. Chapter 39 reports Papias on Mark and Matthew.) - Church History, Book 6, 6.25.10 (Eusebius, Church History 6.14 and 6.25, reporting Clement of Alexandria and Origen. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent.)
- Muratorian fragment, two epistles of JohnMuratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5
Moreover, the Acts of all the Apostles are comprised by Luke in one book, and addressed to the most excellent Theophilus, because these different events took place when he was present himself; and he shows this clearly-i.e., that the principle on which he wrote was, to give only what fell under his own notice-by the omission of the passion of Peter, and also of the journey of Paul, when he went from the city-Rome-to Spain.
Muratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5Open the Source (Roberts-Donaldson translation, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5. The Latin is damaged and the English follows restorations. The fragment lists the books read in the church and those rejected.) - Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, 2 John (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives 2 John as AD 85–100. It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Codex Sinaiticus, About the manuscriptCodex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus Project
Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus ProjectOpen the Source (The Codex Sinaiticus project’s description of the manuscript, a fourth-century Greek Bible with the earliest complete copy of the New Testament.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.