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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 John 1:9

Whosoever transgresseth - Παραβαινων· He who passes over the sacred enclosure, or goes beyond the prescribed limits; and abideth not in the doctrine - does not remain within these holy limits, but indulges himself either in excesses of action or passion; hath not God for his Father, nor the love of God in his heart. Hath both the father and the Son - He who abideth in the doctrine of Christ, his body is a temple of the Holy Trinity, and he has communion with the Father as his Father,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 John 1:10

If there come any unto you - Under the character of an apostle or evangelist, to preach in your house; and bring not this doctrine, that Jesus is come in the flesh, and has died for the redemption of the world. Receive him not unto your house - Give him no entertainment as an evangelical teacher. Let him not preach under your roof. Neither bid him God speed - Και χαιρειν αυτῳ μη λεγερε· And do not say, Health to him - do not salute him with Peace be to thee! The usual salutation... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 John 1:11

Is partaker of his evil deeds - He that acts towards him as if he considered him a Christian brother, and sound in the faith, puts it in his power to deceive others, by thus apparently accrediting his ministry. No sound Christian should countenance any man as a Gospel minister, who holds and preaches erroneous doctrines; especially concerning the Lord Jesus. Nor can any Christian attend the ministry of such teachers without being criminal in the sight of God. He who attends their ministry... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 John 1:1-13

This Epistle is written by the Apostle John to a Christian family. He, like the Apostle Peter had done before him ( 1 Peter 5:1 ), styles himself a presbyter. His First Epistle was written to a Church or to the Churches. In this, the Second Epistle, we have a priceless fragment of early Christian history, showing us the relation which subsisted between the apostle and a Christian family, and also to how large an extent the new Christian faith was in some instances moulding family life, by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 John 1:4

I rejoice greatly that I have found (certain) of thy children walking in truth. The Revised Version is certainly right in rendering εὕρηκα "I have found" rather than "I found;" and it is probably right in rendering ἐχάρην "I rejoice" rather than "I rejoiced." It looks like the idiomatic "epistolary aorist," of which we have had probable instances in 1 John 2:21 and 1 John 2:26 . In this idiom the point of view of the recipient of the letter is taken instead of that of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 John 1:5

I beseech thee, lady. The verb has, perhaps, a tinge of peremptoriness about it ἐρωτῶ : "This is a request which I have a right to make." Respecting the "new commandment" and "from the beginning," see notes on 1 John 2:7 . We may reasonably suppose that St. John is here reminding her of the contents of his First Epistle. The parallels between this Epistle and the First are so numerous and so close, that we can scarcely doubt that some of them are consciously made. There are at least ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 John 1:5-11

2. MAIN DIVISION . Exhortation. Having thus stated what has led to his writing, the apostle passes on to the central portion of the letter ( 2 John 1:5-11 ), which consists of three exhortations: to love and obedience ( 2 John 1:5 , 2 John 1:6 ); against false doctrine ( 2 John 1:7-9 ); against false charity ( 2 John 1:10 , 2 John 1:11 ). The transition to this practical part of the Epistle is indicated by the opening particles, "And now." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 John 1:6

And this is love; i.e., the love which the commandment enjoins consists in this—active and unremitting obedience. Just as in the sphere of thought truth must be combined with love (see on 2 John 1:3 ), so in the sphere of emotion love must be combined with obedience. Warm feelings, whether towards God or towards man, are worse than valueless if they are not united, on the one hand with obedience, on the other with truth. This was the elect lady's danger; in the exuberance of her chanty she... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 John 1:7

For. These are no mere generalities, and it is not without reason that these facts are insisted upon. The dangers which they suggest are not imaginary. Mischief has already been done by neglecting them. "Deceiver" πλάνος here means "seducer," one who causes others to go astray. The cognate verb πλανᾷν is frequent in St. John, especially in the Revelation ( Revelation 2:20 ; Revelation 12:9 ; Revelation 13:14 ; Revelation 19:20 ; Revelation 20:3 , Revelation 20:8 , ... read more

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