Bible Commentaries
2 John 1

Verse 6

“Love is the fulfilling of the law” ( :-), and the fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love.

This is the commandment — Greek, “The commandment is this,” namely, love, in which all God’s other commandments are summed up.

Verse 7

As love and truth go hand in hand ( :-, :-), he feels it needful to give warning against teachers of untruth.

For — giving the reason why he dwelt on truth and on love, which manifests itself in keeping God’s commandments ( :-).

many — ( :-; :-).

are entered — The oldest manuscripts read, “have gone forth,” namely, from us.

confess not ... Jesus ... in the flesh — the token of Antichrist.

is come — Greek, “coming.” He who denies Christ’s coming in the flesh, denies the possibility of the incarnation; he who denies that he has come, denies its actuality. They denied the possibility of a Messiah’s appearing, or coming, in the flesh [Neander]. I think the Greek present participle implies both the first and the second advent of Christ. He is often elsewhere called the Coming One (Greek), :-; :-. The denial of the reality of His manifestation in the flesh, at His first coming, and of His personal advent again, constitutes Antichrist. “The world turns away from God and Christ, busily intent upon its own husks; but to OPPOSE God and Christ is of the leaven of Satan” [Bengel].

This is a, etc. — Greek, “This (such a one as has been just described) is the deceiver and the Antichrist.” The many who in a degree fulfil the character, are forerunners of the final personal Antichrist, who shall concentrate in himself all the features of previous Antichristian systems.

Verse 8

Look to yourselves — amidst the widespread prevalence of deception so many being led astray. So Christ’s warning, :-, :-, :-.

we lose not ... we receive — The oldest manuscripts and versions read, “That YE lose not, but that YE receive.”

which we have wrought — So one oldest manuscript reads. Other very old manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read, “which YE have wrought.” The we being seemingly the more difficult reading is less likely to have been a transcriber’s alteration. Look that ye lose not the believing state of “truth and love,” which WE (as God’s workmen, :-; :-) were the instruments of working in you.

a full reward — of grace not of debt. Fully consummated glory. If “which YE have wrought” be read with very old authorities, the reward meant is that of their “work (of faith) and labor of love.” There are degrees of heavenly reward proportioned to the degrees of capability of receiving heavenly blessedness. Each vessel of glory hanging on Jesus shall be fully happy. But the larger the vessel, the greater will be its capacity for receiving heavenly bliss. He who with one pound made ten, received authority over ten cities. He who made five pounds received five cities; each according to his capacity of rule, and in proportion to his faithfulness. Compare :-. “There is no half reward of the saints. It is either lost altogether, or received in full; in full communion with God” [Bengel]. Still no service of minister or people shall fail to receive its reward.

Verse 9

The loss ( :-) meant is here explained: the not having God, which results from abiding not in the doctrine of Christ.

transgresseth — The oldest manuscripts and versions read, “Every one who takes the lead”; literally, “goes,” or “leads on before”; compare :-, “He goeth before them” (not the same Greek). Compare :-, “Loveth to have the pre-eminence.”

hath not God — ( :-; :-). The second “of Christ” is omitted in the oldest manuscripts, but is understood in the sense.

He — emphatical: He and He alone.