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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

Context of 2 John 1:4

2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5And 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. 6And 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.

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 greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
• 1 Thessalonians 3:6But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.
• 3 John 1:3It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.
• Hosea 14:9Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
• Malachi 2:6True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.
• Galatians 2:14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
• Ephesians 5:2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
• 1 John 1:6If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
• 1 John 2:6Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

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