4I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, just as we received commandment from the Father. [1:5] And now I appeal to you, lady — not as writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning — that we love one another. [1:6] And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you heard from the beginning, so that you walk in it.
2JN 1:4-6
Walking in the Truth
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, the term 'walking' carried a rich idiomatic sense, referring to the entirety of one’s conduct and way of life. For early Christian communities, 'walking in truth' would have been understood as living in alignment with the teachings of Jesus, which were seen as the ultimate expression of divine commandment. The 'lady' addressed here could refer either to a specific individual of high social standing or, more likely, to a local church community, a common metaphorical usage in early Christian correspondence. The emphasis on 'love' reflects the early Christian ethic of mutual care and solidarity, rooted in the teachings of Jesus and distinct from the patron-client relationships typical of Roman society. The reference to 'the beginning' underscores the continuity of these teachings from the earliest days of the Christian movement, grounding them in a shared, authoritative tradition. This passage reinforces the communal identity and ethical norms of early Christians, distinguishing them from surrounding cultural practices.
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How other translations render this
2JN 1:4
- KJV
- I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
- BSB
- I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
- Koinōnos
- I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, just as we received commandment from the Father.
2JN 1:5
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
- Koinōnos
- And now I appeal to you, lady — not as writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning — that we love one another.
2JN 1:6
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
- Koinōnos
- And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you heard from the beginning, so that you walk in it.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
2JN 1:4
- walking:The word translated 'walking' here refers to one's entire way of life or conduct, not just physical movement. It describes the manner in which a person lives and behaves.
2JN 1:5
- I implore:The term translated 'I implore' often implies a request made to an equal or a superior, carrying a sense of earnest appeal rather than a command.
- lady,:The word translated 'lady' is a respectful address, often used for a mistress of a household or a woman of high social standing, indicating honor and deference.
- [the] beginning,:The word translated '[the] beginning' refers to the absolute starting point or origin of something, emphasizing its foundational nature and earliest existence.