2 John 1:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.

NIV: It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

NASB: I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received a commandment to do from the Father.

CSB: I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.

NLT: How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

KJV: I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

NKJV: I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.

Verse 4 begins the main body of John's letter and is also the general theme of the text: John's joy at finding truth in the lives of some of the "children." John is pleased at the growth of the believers in the church to which he writes. His use of the term "greatly" emphasizes his tremendous elation. This was news John had either heard or, more likely, had personally encountered. His joy was specific, relating to children walking in obedience to the truth of the gospel. This verse is also similar to 3 John 1:4, which also mentions John's happiness at seeing Christians live according to their faith. These two letters (2 John and 3 John) were probably written to a different audience, but share many similarities. This strengthens the case that the apostle John wrote both.

John then connects this obedience to its source, which is the command of God. This letter frequently references the Father-Son relationship within the Trinity. The introduction mentioned the Father and the Father's Son (2 John 1:3). Verse 9 will mention the teaching of both the Father and Son. A believer who trusts in Christ must also believe and obey the teachings of the Father.

Second John 1:4–6 summarizes the theme of this letter: true Christian love. John is pleased to hear that “some” of the members of this church are walking in truth. This implies that some are not, and in later verses, John will warn about following false teachers. Here, John reminds the reader that showing love is the first and primary commandment given to a Christian believer.

The entire book of 2 John is only 13 verses long. It is written by ''the elder,'' in this case the disciple John. In it, John commends a group of believers for holding fast to the truth of the gospel. He also warns these people to avoid those who deny aspects of the Christian faith, and who deceive people away from the truth. John uses the term ''elect lady and her children'' as a reference to this entire local church.

As a short letter, 2 John doesn’t develop any one topic too deeply. John is pleased to see that some believers are sticking to the truth, but this implies that others are not. He is concerned over the influence of false teachers, using strong terms to reject their teachings. John’s reference to ''the elect lady and her children'' is probably a reference to an entire local church and its members.

Second John is one of the disciple John’s letters. The others are 1 John and 3 John. He is also the author of the gospel of John and the book of Revelation. Letters such as this help us understand John’s guidance of early churches. As the last surviving disciple, John’s words would have carried great weight in the Christian community.