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Bishop's Bible

2 John 1:12

I had many thynges to write vnto you: neuerthelesse, I woulde not write with paper & inke, but I trust to come vnto you, and speake with you mouth to mouth, that our ioy may be full.

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Writing;   King James Dictionary - Trust;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Paper, Paper Reeds;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Writing;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.
King James Version (1611)
Hauing many things to write vnto you, I would not write with paper and inke, but I trust to come vnto you, and speake face to face, that our ioy may be full.
King James Version
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
English Standard Version
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
New American Standard Bible
Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made complete.
New Century Version
I have many things to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so we can be full of joy.
THE MESSAGE
I have a lot more things to tell you, but I'd rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.
Berean Standard Bible
I have many things to write you, but I would prefer not to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
Contemporary English Version
I have much more to tell you, but I don't want to write it with pen and ink. I want to come and talk to you in person, because that will make us really happy.
Complete Jewish Bible
Although I have much to write you people, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and see you and to talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
Darby Translation
Having many things to write to you, I would not with paper and ink; but hope to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.
Easy-to-Read Version
I have much to say to you. But I don't want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come visit you. Then we can be together and talk. That will make us very happy.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Although I had many things to write vnto you, yet I woulde not write with paper & ynke: but I trust to come vnto you, & speake mouth to mouth, yt our ioy may be full.
George Lamsa Translation
I have many things to say to you, which I do not want to write with paper and ink: but I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
Good News Translation
I have so much to tell you, but I would rather not do it with paper and ink; instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you personally, so that we shall be completely happy.
Lexham English Bible
Although I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so by means of paper and ink, but I hope to be with you and to speak face to face, so that your joy may be complete.
Literal Translation
Having many things to write to you, I do not intend to speak by means of paper and ink, but I am hoping to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.
Amplified Bible
I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to do so with paper (papyrus) and black (ink); but I hope to come to you and speak with you face to face, so that your joy may be complete.
American Standard Version
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
Bible in Basic English
Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be full.
Hebrew Names Version
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.
International Standard Version
Although I have a great deal to write to you, I would prefer not to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.John 17:13; 1 John 1:4; 3 John 1:1:13;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Though I have many things to write to you, I will not with parchment and ink; but I hope to come to you, and mouth with mouth to speak, that our joy may be complete.
Murdock Translation
Having many things I could write to you, I would not with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you, and to converse mouth to mouth, that our joy may be complete.
English Revised Version
Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write them] with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be fulfilled.
World English Bible
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.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Having many things to write to you, I was not minded to write with paper and ink: but I trust to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
Weymouth's New Testament
I have a great deal to say to you all, but will not write it with paper and ink. Yet I hope to come to see you and speak face to face, so that your happiness may be complete.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Y haue mo thingis to write to you, and Y wolde not bi parchemyn and enke; for Y hope that Y schal come to you, and speke mouth to mouth, that your ioye be ful.
Update Bible Version
Having many things to write to you, I would not [write them] with paper and ink: but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
Webster's Bible Translation
Having many things to write to you, I would not [write] with paper and ink: but I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
New English Translation
Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
New King James Version
Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
New Living Translation
I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.
New Life Bible
I have many things to write to you. I do not want to write them in this letter. But I hope to come to you soon. Then we can talk about these things together that your joy may be full.
New Revised Standard
Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Though I had many things, unto you, to write, I was not minded to say them with paper and ink; but I hope to come unto you, and, mouth to mouth, to talk, - that your joy may be made full.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Having more things to write unto you, I would not by paper and ink: for I hope that I shall be with you and speak face to face, that your joy may be full.
Revised Standard Version
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I had many thinges to wryte vnto you neverthelesse I wolde not wryte with paper and ynke: but I trust to come vnto you and speake with you mouth to mouth that oure ioye maye be full.
Young's Literal Translation
Many things having to write to you, I did not intend through paper and ink, but I hope to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I had many thinges to wryte vnto you: neuertheles I wolde not wryte wt papyre and ynke, but I trust to come vnto you, and to speake with you mouth mouth, that oure ioye maye be full.
Mace New Testament (1729)
I had many things to write to you, but I don't think it proper to commit them to paper and ink, because I hope to make you a visit, and deliver them by word of mouth; that so our joy may be compleat.
Simplified Cowboy Version
I've got a lot more to say, but I don't want to do it with a pen. I hope soon to see y'all in person. We'll all look forward to that.

Contextual Overview

12 I had many thynges to write vnto you: neuerthelesse, I woulde not write with paper & inke, but I trust to come vnto you, and speake with you mouth to mouth, that our ioy may be full. 13 The sonnes of thy elect sister greete thee. Amen.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

many: John 16:12

I would: 3 John 1:13

I trust: Romans 15:24, 1 Corinthians 16:5-7, Philemon 1:22, Hebrews 13:19, Hebrews 13:23

face to face: Gr. mouth to mouth, Numbers 12:8

that: John 15:11, John 16:24, John 17:13, 2 Timothy 1:4, 1 John 1:4

our: or, your

Reciprocal: Acts 15:27 - who Philippians 2:24 - General 1 Timothy 3:14 - hoping

Cross-References

Genesis 1:10
And God called the drie lande ye earth, and the gatheryng together of waters called he the seas: and God sawe that it was good.
Genesis 1:11
And God sayde: let the earth bryng foorth [both] budde and hearbe apt to seede, and fruitfull trees yeeldyng fruite after his kynde, which hath seede in it selfe vpon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:24
And God sayde: let the earth bryng foorth lyuyng creature after his kynde, cattell, worme, and beastes of the earth after his kynde: and it was so.
Genesis 1:26
God saide: let vs make man in our image, after our lykenesse, and let them haue rule of the fisshe of the sea, & of the foule of the ayre, and of cattell, & of all the earth, and of euery creepyng thyng that creepeth vpon the earth.
Isaiah 61:11
For like as the ground bringeth foorth her fruite, and as the garden shooteth foorth seede: so shall the Lorde God cause righteousnesse and prayse to floorishe foorth before all the heathen.
Mark 4:28
For the earth bringeth foorth fruite of her selfe, first the blade, then the eare, after that, the full corne in the eare.
Luke 6:44
For euery tree is knowen by his fruite: for of thornes do not me gather fygges, nor of busshes, gather they grapes.
2 Corinthians 9:10
He that ministreth seede vnto ye sower, ministreth bread also for foode, and multiplieth your seede, and encreaseth the fruites of your ryghteousnesse:
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceaued, God is not mocked: For whatsoeuer a man soweth, that shall he also reape.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Having many things to write unto you,.... Either on a civil, or on a religious account, concerning the state of the churches of Asia, and particularly Ephesus, and of private families and persons, and concerning the truths and doctrines of the Gospel; not that he had any new one, or any other than what they had heard from the beginning, to communicate to them, by word of mouth, for this he denies, 2 John 1:5; wherefore this makes nothing for the unwritten traditions of the Papists, and as if the Scriptures did not contain the whole of doctrine and of the will of God.

I would not [write] with paper and ink; any more than what was written:

but I trust to come unto you; where they were, but where that was is not known; very likely in some parts of Asia, and it may be not far from Ephesus, since any long journey would not have been fit for the apostle to have taken in this his old age:

and speak face to face; that is, freely and familiarly converse together about things omitted in this epistle:

that our joy may be full; in seeing one another's faces, and through hearing the things that may be talked of; and since the conversation would doubtless turn on divine and evangelic things, so fulness, or a large measure of spiritual joy, may be here intended. Instead of "our joy", the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin and the Ethiopic versions, read, "your joy".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Having many things to write unto you - That I would wish to say. This language is such as would be used by one who was hurried, or who was in feeble health, or who hoped soon to see the person written to. In such a case only the points would be selected which were of most immediate and pressing importance, and the remainder would be reserved for a more free personal interview.

I would not write with paper - The word “paper” here conveys an idea which is not strictly correct. “Paper,” as that term is now understood, was not invented until long after this period. The material designated by the word used by John (χάρτης chartēs) was the Egyptian papyrus, and the particular thing denoted was a leaf made out of that plant. The sheets were made from membranes of the plant closely pressed together. This plant was found also in Syria and Babylon, but it was produced in greater abundance in Egypt, and that was the plant which was commonly used. It was so comparatively cheap, that it in a great measure superseded the earlier materials for writing - plates of lead, or stone, or the skins of animals. It is probable that the books of the New Testament were written on this species of paper. Compare Hug, Introduction, chapter iii., Section 11.

And ink - The ink which was commonly employed in writing was made of soot and water, with a mixture of some species of gum to give it consistency and durability - Lucke. The instrument (pen) was made of a reed.

But I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face - Margin, as in Greek, “mouth to mouth.” The phrase is a common one, to denote conversation with any one, especially free and confidential conversation. Compare Numbers 12:8; Jeremiah 32:4.

That our joy may be full - Margin, “your.” The marginal reading has arisen from a variation in the Greek copies. The word “our” is best sustained, and accords best with the connection. John would be likely to express the hope that he would find pleasure from such an interview. See the notes at 1 John 1:4. Compare Romans 1:11-12.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 John 1:12. Having many things to write — That is, I have many things that I might write to thee, but I think it best not to commit them to paper, because I hope to visit thee shortly, and speak fully of those matters, which will be a means of increasing the comfort both of thee and thy family, as well as my own. There is more comfort in mutual interviews among friends than in epistolaty correspondence,


 
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