2 John 1:1

2 John 1:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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;
• New International Version (NIV)The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—
• English Standard Version (ESV)The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
• New King James Version (NKJV)The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,

Context of 2 John 1:1

The elder: To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth — and not only I, but also all who know the truth — 2because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

2 John 1:1 word by word

Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς οὓς ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, καὶ οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνος, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τὴν ἀλήθειαν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The elderπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
• unto the electἐκλεκτόςeklektos · selectG1588
• ladyΚυρίαKuria · ladyG2959
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• they that have knownγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097

Cross-references for 2 John 1:1

• 1 Peter 5:1I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:
• 3 John 1:1The elder: To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
• 2 John 1:5So now I ask you, dear lady — not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning — that we love one another.
• Luke 1:3So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus,
• Ephesians 1:4For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:3We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
• 1 Peter 1:2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
• 2 John 1:2because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever.
• 1 Peter 1:22Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly,
• 1 John 3:18Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.
• John 8:32You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
• Galatians 2:5But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.
• Galatians 3:1You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
• Galatians 5:7You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth?
• Colossians 1:5because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel

Commentaries on 2 John 1:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The elder - John the apostle, who was now a very old man, generally supposed to be about ninety, and therefore he uses the term ̔ , presbyter or elder, not as the name of an office, but as designating his advanced age. He is allowed to have been the oldest of all the apostles, and to have been the only one who died a natural death. This title led some of the ancients to attribute this epistle to a person called John the Presbyter, a member of the Church…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The elder - See the introduction, Section 1, (2,d). Unto the elect lady - The elect or chosen Kyria. See the introduction, Section 2. He addresses her as one chosen of God to salvation, in the use of a term often applied to Christians in the New Testament. And her children - The word here rendered “children” ( ́ teknois) would include in itself both sons and daughters, but since the apostle immediately uses a masculine pronoun, toisit would seem more…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle salutes the elect lady and her children. (1-3) Express his joy in their faith and love. (4-6) Cautions them against deceivers. (7-11) And concludes. (12-13) Verses 1-3 Religion turns compliments into real expressions of respect and love. And old disciple is honourable; an old apostle and leader of disciples is more so. The letter is to a noble Christian matron, and her children; it is well that the gospel should get among such: some noble…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The elder: The apostle John calls himself “the elder” to affirm his authority in the church. To the chosen lady and her children: The Greek word kuria could be the name of a specific woman. However, it more likely refers to a local church and its members (see 1:13). whom I love in the truth: This could mean “truly love” (see 1:5–6). More likely, it refers to the love shared by people who confess the same truth about Christ. This truth stands in contrast…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1Authenticity.--That these two Epistles were written by the same author appears from their similarity of tone, style, and sentiments. That John, the beloved disciple, was the author of the Second and Third Epistles, as of the First Epistle, appears from Irenæus [Against Heresies, 1.16.3], who quotes 2Jo 10, 11; and in [3.16.8], he quotes 2Jo 7, mistaking it, however, as if occurring in First John. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 192) [Miscellanies, 2.66]…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 John 1:1

• Elder

In the dictionaries

• Elect lady
• Truth
• chosen, choose, chosen people, Chosen One, elect

Commentaries on 2 John 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings