2 John 1:3-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 John 1:1-4

Ancient epistles began, as here, with salutation and good wishes: religion consecrates, as far as may be, old forms, and turns compliments into real expressions of life and love. Here we have, as usually, I. The saluter, not expressed by name, but by a chosen character: The elder. The expression, and style, and love, intimate that the penman was the same with that of the foregoing epistle; he is now the elder, emphatically and eminently so; possibly the oldest apostle now living, the chief... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 John 1:5-6

We come now more into the design and substance of the epistle; and here we have, I. The apostle's request: Now, I beseech thee, lady. Considering what it is that he entreats, the way of address is very remarkable; it is not any particular boon or bounty to himself, but common duty and observance of divine command. Here he might command or charge; but harsher measures are worse than needless where milder will prevail; and the apostolical spirit is, of all other, the most tender and endearing.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 John 1:1-3

1:1-3 The Elder to the Elect Lady and to her children, whom I love in truth (it is not only I who love you and them, but so do all who love the truth) because of the truth which abides in us and which will be with us for ever. Grace, mercy and peace will be with you from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love. The writer designates himself simply by the title of The Elder. Elder can have three different meanings. (i) It can mean simply an older man,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 John 1:1-3

It is of great interest to note how in this passage love and truth are inseparably connected. It is in the truth that the elder loves the elect lady. It is because of the truth that he loves and writes to the church. In Christianity we learn two things about love. (i) Christian truth tells us the way in which we ought to love. Agape ( Greek #26 ) is the word for Christian love. Agape ( Greek #26 ) is not passion with its ebb and flow, its flicker and its flame; nor is it an... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 John 1:4-6

1:4-6 It gave me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, as we have received commandment from the Father. And now, Lady, not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but a commandment which we have had from the beginning, I beg you that we should love one another. And this is love, that we should walk according to his commandments; and this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that we should walk in it. In the church to which he is writing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 John 1:3

Grace be with you, mercy and peace ,.... This form of salutation, or wish and prayer for the blessings mentioned, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ , is the same used by other apostles; see 1 Timothy 1:2 and See Gill on Romans 1:7 . Only it is added here with respect to Christ, that he is the Son of the Father in truth and love ; which is mentioned by the apostle to confirm the deity of Christ, which is plainly implied in wishing for the above things equally... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 John 1:4

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children ,.... Not all, but some of them; for good parents have not always good children, or at least not all of them; Adam had a Cain, Abraham an Ishmael, and Isaac an Esau: God is pleased to show his discriminating grace in tribes and families, by taking some, and leaving others: it is a great mercy when any are called by grace, and instead of the fathers are the children: and this was the case of some of the children of this elect lady, they were ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 John 1:5

And now I beseech thee, lady ,.... Or "Kyria", which word the Syriac and Arabic versions retain, as if it was a proper name: the apostle having finished the inscription, salutation, and congratulation in the preceding verses, passes to an exhortation and entreaty to observe the commandment of love to one another, which is not a new commandment, but what was from the beginning: not as though I wrote a new commandment , &c.; See Gill on 1 John 2:7 and See Gill on 1 John 2:8 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 John 1:6

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments ,.... By observing them as a rule of conversation, in so doing love is shown to God; and such may expect the fresh discoveries of the love of God to, them; See Gill on 1 John 5:3 ; this is the commandment, that as ye have heard from the beginning , ye should walk in it ; that is, this is the will of God, that his people should walk in the truth of the Gospel, and abide by it, as they heard and received it at their first... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 John 1:3

Grace be with you - This is addressed to her, her household, and probably that part of the Church which was more immediately under her care. The Son of the Father - The apostle still keeps in view the miraculous conception of Christ; a thing which the Gnostics absolutely denied; a doctrine which is at the ground work of our salvation. read more

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