2 John 1:11 kjv
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
2 John 1:11 nkjv
for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
2 John 1:11 niv
Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
2 John 1:11 esv
for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
2 John 1:11 nlt
Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.
2 John 1 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 16:17 | Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. | Warns against divisive teachers; avoid them. |
| 1 Cor 5:11 | But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral... or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. | Avoid intimate association with immoral persons. |
| 2 Cor 6:14 | Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? | Warns against unholy alliances. |
| Gal 1:8-9 | But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached... let him be accursed. | Denounces those who preach a different gospel. |
| Eph 5:11 | And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. | No participation in dark deeds; expose them. |
| 1 Tim 6:3-5 | If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words... from such withdraw yourself. | Instructs to withdraw from those teaching error. |
| Tit 3:10 | Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, | Command to reject heretics. |
| 2 Pet 2:1 | But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies. | Describes the danger of false teachers. |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness... | Highlights insidious nature of false teachers. |
| Deut 13:6-8 | If your brother, the son of your mother... entice you secretly, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods"... you shall not consent to him or listen to him. | Warns against consenting to idolatrous persuasion. |
| Prov 28:4 | Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them. | Supporting the wicked is contrary to the law. |
| 1 Jn 2:18-19 | Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come... They went out from us, but they were not of us. | Many antichrists already present. |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. | Call to discern and test spirits. |
| Matt 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. | Warning about deceitful appearance. |
| Matt 10:14 | And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. | Rejection of those who reject truth. |
| Acts 20:29-31 | For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock... Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. | Paul's warning against internal and external wolves. |
| Rev 2:2 | "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars." | Commends rejection of evil and false apostles. |
| 2 Thess 3:6 | But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. | Command to withdraw from disorderly brethren. |
| Psa 50:18 | When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers. | Analogy of sharing in wicked deeds. |
| Jer 23:32 | "Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness." | God's judgment on false prophets. |
2 John 1 verses
2 John 1 11 Meaning
2 John 1:11 states that anyone who extends a greeting of "God speed" or well-wishing to a false teacher thereby becomes a participant in their wicked deeds. This verse underscores the serious spiritual implications of offering encouragement or support to those who propagate false doctrine, implying complicity in their ungodly work.
2 John 1 11 Context
2 John is a concise letter primarily addressing the danger of false teachers who denied the incarnate Christ. The "elect lady and her children" likely refer to a local church and its members. John's warning in verse 11 is embedded within instructions for Christian hospitality (vv. 10-11). In that culture, offering hospitality was a crucial sign of fellowship and endorsement. False teachers often traveled, relying on Christian communities for support and lodging, which allowed them to disseminate their doctrines. John therefore emphasizes that extending hospitality, even a greeting, to those who do not bring "the doctrine of Christ" (v. 9) is to share in their anti-Christian mission. This firm stance served as a boundary marker to protect the church's doctrinal purity and prevent complicity with error.
2 John 1 11 Word analysis
- For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction introducing the reason or explanation for the preceding command to not receive or greet false teachers. It provides the justification for such a strong instruction.
- he that biddeth (ὁ λέγων - ho legōn): Literally "the one saying." This is a present active participle, denoting a continuous or habitual action, implying someone who willingly or customarily offers such a greeting, not merely an accidental encounter.
- him (αὐτῷ - autō): Refers directly to the "false teacher" or "deceiver" mentioned in verse 10, specifically one who "does not bring this doctrine" of Christ.
- God speed (χαίρειν - chairein): While commonly translated "God speed" (KJV), this Greek term literally means "rejoice" or "farewell." In the context of greeting a traveling teacher, it functions as a welcome, a blessing, or wishing them success on their journey. It signifies more than a casual greeting; it implies an endorsement of their person and their mission. Offering "chairein" to someone meant extending fellowship and approval to their message and journey.
- is partaker (κοινωνεῖ - koinōnei): This verb is derived from koinōnia, meaning "fellowship," "partnership," "sharing," or "communion." The term indicates active participation, complicity, or joint responsibility. By extending "God speed" to the false teacher, one literally enters into fellowship with their deeds, sharing in their work and the guilt of it.
- of his evil deeds (τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς - tois ergois autou tois ponērois):
- evil (πονηροῖς - ponērois): This adjective denotes not just something bad or wicked, but something inherently malicious, destructive, or actively harmful. The false teachers' deeds are evil because they corrupt truth, deceive souls, and dismantle sound doctrine.
- deeds (ἔργοις - ergois): Refers to the actions, practices, or works of the false teachers, which primarily include their false teaching, but also encompasses their overall lifestyle or ministry that spreads error. The connection means sharing in the outcome or consequences of their destructive work.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "he that biddeth him God speed": This phrase represents active welcome and spiritual endorsement. In the first-century context, "greeting" a traveling teacher often included offering lodging and provisions. Such an act signaled agreement with their message and support for their journey. John makes it clear this form of welcome to a false teacher is forbidden.
- "is partaker of his evil deeds": This highlights the profound spiritual accountability for extending fellowship or endorsement to false teachers. The support enables their destructive work, making the supporter complicit in the damage caused by the spread of heresy. The theological implication is that tacit approval of error leads to shared guilt for the harm it causes within the church.
2 John 1 11 Bonus section
The strong injunction against greeting (χαίρειν - chairein) or receiving false teachers implies that John's audience was struggling with the tension between Christian hospitality and doctrinal purity. Gnosticism and similar proto-Gnostic beliefs, which denied the full humanity of Christ, were prevalent and particularly deceptive. For early believers, refusing hospitality or a greeting was a counter-cultural act. However, John prioritizes the spiritual integrity of the church above social conventions, demonstrating that silence or endorsement of error can be as damaging as direct participation in ungodliness. This verse clarifies that even seemingly small acts of encouragement can have significant spiritual consequences when directed towards those actively working against the truth of Christ.
2 John 1 11 Commentary
2 John 1:11 serves as a stark warning against spiritual compromise. It is not merely a directive for politeness but a serious theological statement on complicity in the spread of false doctrine. Extending a welcoming greeting or support to those who deny the foundational truth of Christ's incarnation (as mentioned in verse 7) signifies approval and provides material aid for their destructive work. "God speed" in this context is an act of spiritual endorsement. By enabling such a person, the supporter "shares" in their evil works, implying accountability before God for the propagation of error. This verse underscores the necessity of clear boundaries in fellowship to preserve the purity of the gospel and protect believers from insidious spiritual dangers. It calls for discernment and courage to stand firm against heresy, even when it might seem impolite by societal norms.
- Example: Providing financial aid or hosting online platforms for a teacher known to deny core Christian doctrines would fall under "partaking of his evil deeds," as it facilitates the spread of error.