2 John 1:4

2 John 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
• New International Version (NIV)It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.

Context of 2 John 1:4

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. I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father. 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. 6This is love: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love.

2 John 1:4 word by word

Ἐχάρην λίαν ὅτι εὕρηκα ἐκ τῶν τέκνων σου περιπατοῦντας ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καθὼς ἐντολὴν ἐλάβομεν παρὰ τοῦ πατρός.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I rejoicedχαίρωchairō · to rejoiceG5463
• greatlyλίανlian · greatlyG3029
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• I foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• childrenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• walkingπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• we have receivedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• a commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• fromπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962

Cross-references for 2 John 1:4

• Philippians 4:10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
• 1 Thessalonians 3:6But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you.
• 3 John 1:3For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth — how you are walking in truth.
• Hosea 14:9Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
• Malachi 2:6True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity and turned many from iniquity.
• Galatians 2:14But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”
• Ephesians 5:2and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
• 1 John 1:6If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.
• 1 John 2:6The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

Commentaries on 2 John 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4That I found of thy children walking in truth - I have already supposed this Christian matron to be mother of a family, probably a widow, for no mention is made of her husband; and that she was also a deaconess in the church, and one in those house the traveling evangelists preached, and there they were entertained. The children mentioned here may either be her own children, or those members of the Church which were under her care, or some of both. The…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4I rejoiced greatly that I found … - That I learned this fact respecting some of thy children. The apostle does not say how he had learned this. It may have been that he had become personally acquainted with them when they were away from their home, or that he had learned it from others. The word used ̔́ heurēkawould apply to either method. Grotius supposed that some of the sons had come to Ephesus on business, and that John had become acquainted with…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 It is good to be trained to early religion; and children may be beloved for their parents' sake. It gave great joy to the apostle to see children treading in their parents' steps, and likely in their turn to support the gospel. May God bless such families more and more, and raise up many to copy their example. How pleasing the contrast to numbers who spread irreligion, infidelity, and vice, among their children! Our walk is true, our converse…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-11John now applies the truth and love that he mentioned in the introduction (1:1–3) to the situation of those he is writing to. Living in truth and love means maintaining unity or fellowship with true Christians (1:4–6). It also involves recognizing false teachers and choosing not to listen to or support them (1:7–11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. I found--probably in one of his missionary tours of superintendence. See Introduction, at the end, and 2Jo 12; 3Jo 10, 14. of thy children--some. in truth--that is, in the Gospel truth. as--even as. "The Father's commandment" is the standard of "the truth."Read the comment

Topics related to 2 John 1:4

• God
• Holiness

In the dictionaries

• Adoption
• Child; Children

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