THE title, like that of the First Epistle and of the Gospel, exists in various forms both ancient and modern, and is not original: here again the oldest authorities give it in the simplest form. Ἰωάννου or Ἰωάνου β̅ ([862][863]). Ἰωάννου ἐπιστολὴ καθολικὴ β̅ ([864]). τοῦ ἁγίου� ([865]). Θεῖος Ἰωάννη... [ Continue Reading ]
for Ἐκλεκτῇ read ἘΚΛΕΚΤΗ͂Ι with all the best editors: the word is certainly not a proper name. For ΚΥΡΊΑΙ we should perhaps read Κυρίᾳ. 1. Ὁ ΠΡΕΣΒΎΤΕΡΟΣ. This title was probably given to the writer by others before he adopted it himself. It indicates both age and office. It is a designation likely t... [ Continue Reading ]
ADDRESS AND GREETING 1–3. Like most of the Epistles of S. Paul, the Epistles of S. Peter, S. James, and S. Jude, and unlike the First Epistle, this letter has a definite address and greeting. In its fulness the salutation reminds us of the elaborate openings of the Epistles to the Romans, Galatians... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΤῊΝ�. The repetition of ἀλήθεια is quite in S. John’s style. For ΤῊΝ ΜΕΝΟΥ͂ΣΑΝ, _which_ ABIDETH, see on 1 John 2:24. The change of construction, καὶ μεθʼ ἡμῶν ἔσται (for ἐσομένην), indicates that the later clause is a kind of afterthought: comp. καὶ ἐσμέν (1 John 3:1). Winer, 723. The μεθʼ ἡμῶν... [ Continue Reading ]
Omit Κυρίου before ἸΗΣΟΥ͂ with [867][868] against [869][870][871]. [872] omits ἜΣΤΑΙ ΜΕΘ ̓ ἩΜΩ͂Ν. [867] 5th century. Brought by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Constantinople, from Alexandria, and afterwards presented by him to Charles I. in 1628. In the British Museum. All three Epistles. [868] 4th cen... [ Continue Reading ]
[873] omits τοῦ before ΠΑΤΡΌΣ. [873] 4th century. Brought to Rome about 1460. It is entered in the earliest catalogue of the Vatican Library, 1475. All three Epistles. 4. THE OCCASION OF THE EPISTLE 4. The Apostle has met with some of the elect lady’s children (or some members of the particular C... [ Continue Reading ]
For γράφω read ΓΡΆΦΩΝ ([874][875][876][877][878]), and with [879][880], Vulgate, and Memphitic place ΚΑΙΝΉΝ before ΓΡΆΦΩΝ ΣΟΙ: but the other order ([881], Thebaic) is very possibly correct. In the case of γράφω, as in many others, “Erasmus (1516) led the common editions wrong, where the Complutensia... [ Continue Reading ]
5, 6. EXHORTATION TO LOVE AND OBEDIENCE... [ Continue Reading ]
We now enter upon the main portion of the Epistle, which has three divisions: _Exhortation to Love and Obedience_ (5, 6); _Warnings against False Doctrine_ (7–9); _Warnings against False Charity_ (10, 11). As usual, the transitions from one subject to another are made gently and without any marked b... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΑὝΤΗ ἘΣΤῚΝ Ἡ�. _And_ THE LOVE IS THIS: the love which I mean consists in this (see on 1 John 1:5). In 2 John 1:5 obedience prompts love; here love prompts obedience. This is no vicious logical circle, but a healthy moral connexion, as is stated above on 2 John 1:4. Love divorced from duty will r... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΤΙ. Some would make this conjunction introduce the reason for 2 John 1:8 : ‘Because many deceivers have appeared … look to yourselves’. But this is altogether unlike S. John’s simple manner; to say nothing of the very awkward parenthesis which is thus made of οὖτός ἐστιν … ὁ�. ‘For’ or ‘Because’ po... [ Continue Reading ]
WARNINGS AGAINST FALSE DOCTRINE 7–9. The third element in the triplet of leading thoughts once more comes to the front, but without being named. Love and obedience require, as the condition of their existence, truth. It is in truth that ‘the Elder’ and all who love the truth love the elect lady and... [ Continue Reading ]
For ἀπολέσωμεν and ἀπολάβωμεν ([882][883]) read ἈΠΟΛΈΣΗΤΕ and ἈΠΟΛΆΒΗΤΕ ([884][885]), and for εἰργασάμεθα ([886][887][888]) read ΕἸΡΓΆΣΑΣΘΕ ([889][890] and most Versions): the reading is doubtful. [882] 9th century. All three Epistles. [883] 9th century. All three Epistles. [884] 5th century. Brough... [ Continue Reading ]
For παραβαίνων ([891][892][893]) read ΠΡΟΆΓΩΝ ([894][895][896]). After the second ΔΙΔΑΧΗ͂Ι omit τοῦ Χριστοῦ with [897][898][899] against [900][901]. [891] 9th century. All three Epistles. [892] 9th century. All three Epistles. [893] 9th century. A palimpsest. All three Epistles excepting 1 John 3:1... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἼ ΤΙΣ ἜΡΧΕΤΑΙ. As R.V., _If_ ANYONE COMETH. ‘If there come any unto you’ would require ἐάν with the subjunctive. It is implied that such people do come; it is no mere hypothesis: comp. 1 John 5:9; John 7:4; John 7:23; John 8:39; John 8:46; John 18:8. ἜΡΧΕΤΑΙ probably means more than a mere visit: i... [ Continue Reading ]
10, 11. WARNINGS AGAINST FALSE CHARITY... [ Continue Reading ]
For Ὁ ΓᾺΡ λέγων ([902][903]) read Ὁ ΛΈΓΩΝ ΓΆΡ ([904][905][906]). When ΓΆΡ appeared in the third place, the copyists frequently transposed it to the more usual second place. [902] 9th century. All three Epistles. [903] 9th century. All three Epistles. [904] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in... [ Continue Reading ]
For ἐλθεῖν ([907][908]) read ΓΕΝΈΣΘΑΙ ([909][910][911]). For ἈΛΛᾺ ἘΛΠΊΖΩ ([912][913][914][915]) [916] and the Vulgate have ἐλπίζω γάρ. For ἡμῶν ([917][918][919]) read ὑμῶν ([920][921]). [907] 9th century. All three Epistles. [908] 9th century. All three Epistles. [909] 4th century. Discovered by Tis... [ Continue Reading ]
12, 13. CONCLUSION 12, 13. The strong resemblance to the Conclusion of the Third Epistle seems to shew that the two letters are nearly contemporaneous, and it adds to the probability that both are addressed to individuals.... [ Continue Reading ]
For Ἐκλεκτῆς read ἘΚΛΕΚΤΗ͂Σ with the best editors as in 2 John 1:1 ἘΚΛΕΚΤΗ͂Ι. Omit ἀμήν with [922][923][924] against [925][926]. [922] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All three Epistles. [923] 5th century. Brough... [ Continue Reading ]