2 John 1:6

2 John 1:6 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Context of 2 John 1:6

4I 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. This 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. 7Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.

2 John 1:6 word by word

καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη ἵνα περιπατῶμεν κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ. αὕτη ἡ ἐντολή ἐστιν καθὼς ἠκούσατε ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ περιπατῆτε·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• loveὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• we walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• afterκατάkata · according toG2596
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• commandmentsἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• ye have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the beginningἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722

Cross-references for 2 John 1:6

• John 14:15“If you love me, you will keep my commands.
• John 15:10If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
• Romans 13:8Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
• Galatians 5:13For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
• 1 John 5:3For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden,
• 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.
• 1 John 2:24What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.

Commentaries on 2 John 1:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6And this is love - That is, our love is shown and proved by our walking according to the commandments of God; for love is the principle of obedience.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6And this is love, that we walk after his commandments - This is the proper expression or evidence of love to God. See the notes at John 14:15, John 14:21. This is the commandment - That is, this is his great and special commandment; the one by which his disciples are to be especially characterized, and by which they are to be distinguished in the world. See the notes at John 13:34.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. 66. "Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Ro 13:10), and the fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love. This is the commandment--Greek, "The commandment is this," namely, love, in which all God's other commandments are summed up.Read the comment

Topics related to 2 John 1:6

• Commandments
• Love
• Obedience

In the dictionaries

• Love

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