2 John 1:5

2 John 1:5 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.

Context of 2 John 1:5

3Good will, mercy, and peace will be with us. They come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, who in truth and love is the Father’s Son. 4I was very happy to find some of your children living in the truth as the Father has commanded us. Dear lady, I’m now requesting that we continue to love each other. It’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, from the beginning we were commanded to love each other. 6Love means that we live by doing what he commands. We were commanded to live in love, and you have heard this from the beginning. 7Many people who deceive others have gone into the world. They refuse to declare that Jesus Christ came in flesh and blood. This is the mark of a deceiver and an antichrist.

2 John 1:5 word by word

καὶ νῦν ἐρωτῶ σε, κυρία, οὐχ ὡς ἐντολὴν γράφων σοι, ἀλλ᾽ ἣν εἴχομεν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• I beseechἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
• theeσύsu · youG4771
• ladyΚυρίαKuria · ladyG2959
• notοὐou · noG3756
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• though I wroteγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• a newκαινόςkainos · newG2537
• commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• we hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the beginningἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
• we loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• one anotherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240

Cross-references for 2 John 1:5

• 1 John 2:7Dear friends, it’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, I’m giving you an old commandment that you’ve had from the beginning. It’s the old commandment you’ve already heard.
• 1 John 3:11The message that you have heard from the beginning is to love each other.
• John 13:34“I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you.
• John 15:12Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I’m commanding you to do.
• Galatians 5:22But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Ephesians 5:2Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:9You don’t need anyone to write to you about the way Christians should love each other. God has taught you to love each other.
• Hebrews 13:1Continue to love each other.
• 1 Peter 1:22Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other.
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins.
• 2 Peter 1:7to godliness add Christian affection; and to Christian affection add love.
• 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death.
• 1 John 4:7Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God.

Commentaries on 2 John 1:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5That which we had from the beginning - The commandment to love one another was what they had heard from the first publication of Christianity, and what he wishes this excellent woman to inculcate on all those under her care. The mode of address here shows that it was a person, not a Church, to which the apostle wrote.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5And now I beseech thee, lady - Dr, “And now I entreat thee, Kyria,” ( ́ kuriaSee the introduction, Section 2. If this was her proper name, there is no impropriety in supposing that he would address her in this familiar style. John was probably then a very old man; the female to whom the Epistle was addressed was doubtless much younger. Not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee - John presumed that the command to love one another was understood as…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. 5I urge you, dear lady: See study note on 1:1.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. I beseech--rather (compare Note, see on 1Jo 5:16), "I request thee," implying some degree of authority. not ... new commandment--It was old in that Christians heard it from the first in the Gospel preaching; new, in that the Gospel rested love on the new principle of filial imitation of God who first loved us, and gave Jesus to die for us; and also, in that love is now set forth with greater clearness than in the Old Testament dispensation. Love…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 John 1:5

• Commandments
• Love

In the dictionaries

• New Commandment

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