Bible
2 John
1 chapter · New Testament
Second John is a brief letter to 'the elect lady and her children,' warning against deceivers who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. The letter emphasizes walking in truth and love, and it includes one of the Bible's strongest statements on boundaries: 'If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house.' Truth and love must never be separated.
2 John is part of the New Testament, one of the sixty-six books that together form the Christian Bible. It has been carefully preserved through centuries of translation and remains essential reading for understanding God's relationship with humanity. Below you can begin reading 2 John in the World English Bible translation. Switch between WEB, KJV, ASV, and BSB on any chapter page to compare renderings of the original Greek text.
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2 John 1
1 The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth;
2 for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
5 Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,
11 for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
12 Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
13 The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.
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