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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

2 John 1:4

II. The substance of the letter follows: introduced by congratulation, it contains an earnest exhortation to practical love and warning against false teachers.

2 John 1:4. I rejoiced greatly that I have found of thy children walking in truth. As St. Paul always prefaced his warnings by praising what he could praise, so St. John expresses his deep joy at having found his now present joy at having found during his past acquaintance with them certain of her children walking in the full truth of the Christian religion.

Even as we received commandment from the Father. ‘And this is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as He gave us commandment' (1 John 3:23). This great preliminary commandment omits the name of the Son because the reception of Him is its substance; and the particular commandments are presently to be mentioned.

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See also 2 John 1:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 John 1:4. _THAT 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 husban...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I 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 acquain...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    THE SECOND EPISTLE The Second Epistle is addressed by the elder unto the elect lady and her children. The word elder has the same meaning as it has in 1 Peter 5:1. Some take it that the elect lady me...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXHORTATION AND WARNING. The commandment of love given by Christ to His Church from the beginning must be faithfully observed. Loyalty to Christ meant that His followers must beware of the false teach...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE ELECT LADY (2 John 1:1-3)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    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 comman...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    REJOICED. Compare 3 John 1:3. Several of Paul's epistles open with thanksgiving. GREATLY. Greek. _lian._ Only here and 3 John 1:3 in John's writings. OF. App-104. Not implying that there were others...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Occasion of the Epistle 4. The Apostle has met with some of the elect lady's children (or some members of the particular Church addressed), probably in one of his Apostolic visits to some Church...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    [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...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΧΆΡΗΝ _aor. ind. pass. от_ ΧΑΊΡΩ (G5463) ликовать, радоваться. _Aor._ не эпистолярный, но отсылает нас к тому времени, когда старейшина встречался с членами церкви (Marshall), ΛΊΑΝ (G3029) сильно, м...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I REJOICED GREATLY, THAT I FOUND OF THY CHILDREN, &C.— "In testimony of the sincerity of my love towards you, I can assure you that my soul was warmed with exceeding joy, (οτι,) because upon good evid...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    The path of loving obedience. 2 John 1:4-6 (2 John 1:4) I was greatly pleased because I have found (certain) of your children walking in truth, just as we received commandment according to the Father....

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. I FOUND - probably in one of his tours of superintendence. See 'Introduction,'...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 4. I REJOICED, GREATLY. It was a source of great satisfaction to the writer that the children of the lady addressed were walking in the truth. They were observing the commandment of the Father....

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 It is a striking fact that John never appeals to his apostleship in his epistles. In this short note, as well as in the next one, he is simply an elder. This accords with the private character of th...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    I FOUND OF THY CHILDREN] This shows that the lady must have had at least three children. Some have seen in it a sad, gentle hint that there were others of her children who did not walk in the truth. 5...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW TO LIVE IN THE TRUTH 2 JOHN _IAN MACKERVOY_ ABOUT THIS LETTER 1. WRITER At the start of the letter, the writer calls himself the ‘*elder’. There are three ways that we can use the word ‘*eld...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (2) St. John had lately had opportunity of observing bow some of the matron’s children proved their adherence to the truth by their daily conduct. Having congratulated her about this, he states the ch...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The Occasion of the Epistle. “I was exceedingly glad because I have found some of thy children walking in Truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.” ἐχάρην, of a glad surprise (_cf._ Mar...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    WALKING IN TRUTH 2 John 1:1 This exquisite letter, a model of old-world correspondence, was probably written when the Apostle was the guest of the nephews of the lady addressed. The Epistle revolves...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    "TO THE ELECT LADY AND HER CHILDREN" John is thought of as the author of 2 John. This is because of the testimony of ancient authorities as well as the fact that this letter is so similar in style an...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (2) I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in (d) truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. (2) This true profession consists both in love towards one another which t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. There is somewhat very blessed in this. We find that not only this elect lady, but...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Second and Third Epistles of John insist on the truth. The Second warns the faithful against the reception of those who do not teach the doctrine of Christ, especially the truth respecting the Per...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 Is...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. Ver. 4. _I rejoiced greatly_] This cheered up his good old heart more than any out...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children_ That is, some of thy children; _walking in truth_ In a manner agreeable to the gospel. It is probable that John speaks of such of her children as he h...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THAT I FOUND OF THY CHILDREN; when I found some of thy children. The apostle had learned with joy that this was true of some of them. Friends of the truth are friends of each other, and earnestly desi...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Exhortation to walk in truth and love:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I REJOICED GREATLY THAT I FOUND OF THY CHILDREN WALKING IN TRUTH, AS WE HAVE RECEIVED A COMMANDMENT FROM THE FATHER....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Some of her sons, it is probably conjectured, he had met with, upon their occasions, at Ephesus, where, it is thought, he now resided, and found them to have a good savour of religion, and to walk acc...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 John 1:4 rejoiced G5463 (G5644) greatly G3029 that G3754 found G2147 (G5758) of G1537 your G4675 children...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘I rejoice greatly that I have found of your children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.' This does not necessarily mean that some were not walking according to the tru...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    I REJOICE (εχαρην). Second aorist passive of χαιρω as in 3 John 1:3, "of a glad surprise" (D. Smith), as in Mark 14:11, over the discovery about the blessing of their godly home on these lads.GREAT...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Truth and love inseparable in the Christian life. Doctrine the test of reality. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, John, elect lady, anti-christ. CONCLUSION: The test of our love to God is universal...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    HOW HAPPY. "I talked with some of your children, and I was happy to find they live in the truth of love!" John writes to warn the Lady about false teachers. It would be a pleasant surprise for him to...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth._ THE OLD APOSTLE’S CHIEF JOY The affairs of the soul are not so entirely hidden as we may sometimes imagine. I do not see the roots...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 JOHN—NOTE ON 2 JOHN 1:4 The Elder’s Joy and Request. John wants his readers’ behavior to reflect their faith. ⇐...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    PREFACE TO THE SECOND AND THIRD EPISTLE OF S. JOHN.. SEVERAL ancient writers have entertained doubts respecting the Second and Third Epistles of S. John, supposing them to have been written by John t...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Tonight, we want to look at 2 John and 3 John and the book of Jude, all short little one-chapter epistles. The epistles of 2 John and 3 John were of course, written by the apostle John. A situation ex...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 1:6; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    I rejoiced. Expressions of thankful joy are common in the Pauline salutations. See Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Philemon. Greatly [λ ι...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I found of thy children — Probably in their aunt's house, 2 John 1:1:2 John 1:13. Walking in the truth — In faith and love....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. the person rejoicing, St. John, the apostle and minister of Christ Jesus, I REJOICED GREATLY. 2. The mercy rejoiced in, their WALKING IN THE TRUTH. It was not their speculative know...

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Old Testament