Read the passage in context

2 John 1

World English Bible · Public-domain text

2 John 1

Other letters

A short letter joining love, truth and concern about visiting teachers. Read its instructions about welcome in the setting of the teaching dispute it describes.

Browse all 27 books →

World English Bible · Verse numbers are navigation aids. Read the paragraph and chapter around a result.

1The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,

2for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:

3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

4I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.

5Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

6This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.

8Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.

9Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

10If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,

11for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.

12Having 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.

13The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.

Search 2 John →

Respectful inquiry and nonviolence guide our reading. Text and editorial notes are different. Scripture is the public-domain World English Bible, supplied through a dated digital-text snapshot. Topic selections and comparison notes are original editorial aids, not part of the translation or an exhaustive concordance.

Source snapshot expanded October 20, 2026. All 27 New Testament books and 19 selected Old Testament chapters are included. Verse wording is preserved; paragraph formatting and translator footnotes are not reproduced. Read the publisher’s text and notes · Text provenance. New notes dated October 19, 2026.

What would you like to explore?