2 John 1:4 kjv
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2 John 1:4 nkjv
I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.
2 John 1:4 niv
It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
2 John 1:4 esv
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.
2 John 1:4 nlt
How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.
2 John 1 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Jn 1:3-4 | For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified to your truth... I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. | Joy over disciples' faithfulness |
| 1 Thes 3:6-8 | But now that Timothy has come to us from you... we were comforted about you... For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. | Joy from hearing of steadfast faith |
| Php 4:1 | Therefore, my beloved brothers, whom I long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. | Believers as sources of apostolic joy |
| Jn 8:12 | Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." | Walking in truth is walking in Christ's light |
| Col 2:6 | Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, | Walking in Christ is the path |
| Eph 4:1 | I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, | Conduct reflecting Christian calling |
| 1 Jn 1:6-7 | If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie... But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. | Walking in truth vs. darkness, fellowship |
| Psa 1:1 | Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; | Rejecting sinful "walk" for righteousness |
| Psa 86:11 | Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; | Prayer for guidance in truth's walk |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Christ as the ultimate Truth |
| 1 Jn 2:3-6 | And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments... Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar... | Knowing God demonstrated by obedience |
| 1 Jn 5:2-3 | By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. | Love for God intertwined with obedience |
| Deut 5:32-33 | You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you... | OT emphasis on walking in God's commands |
| Lev 18:4 | You shall observe my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. | God's statutes for righteous living |
| Deut 8:6 | So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. | Obedience as walking in God's ways |
| Mt 7:21 | Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. | Doing Father's will (commandment) |
| Heb 5:8-9 | Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, | Christ's example of obedience |
| Jn 1:12 | But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, | "Children" by faith |
| Gal 4:26 | But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. | Believers as spiritual "children" of church |
| 2 Jn 1:7-11 | For many deceivers have gone out into the world... Anyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God... | The contrast to walking in truth: false teachers |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. | Good works as part of walking in Christ |
| 2 Pet 3:17 | You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. | Warning against departing from truth |
| Tit 1:1 | Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, | Truth leads to godliness |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. | Scripture as source of truth and command |
2 John 1 verses
2 John 1 4 Meaning
The Apostle John expresses profound joy upon witnessing some of the recipients' children, likely representing members of the Christian community to whom the letter is addressed, conducting their lives in conformity with divine truth. This adherence to truth is not merely intellectual assent but an active lifestyle, precisely as commanded by God the Father.
2 John 1 4 Context
The second letter of John is a concise warning against specific deceivers or antichrists who denied the full humanity and deity of Jesus Christ, prevalent in the early Church. Written by the Elder, most likely the Apostle John, it is addressed to "the elect lady and her children," commonly understood to be a local church and its members, or possibly a prominent Christian woman and her household. Verse 4 serves as an introductory expression of joy, setting the stage for the crucial warnings that follow regarding the importance of abiding in sound doctrine and not extending hospitality to those who propagate false teaching. Historically, this period saw the rise of Gnostic or proto-Gnostic beliefs that distorted the person of Christ, making John's emphasis on truth and obedience particularly timely and vital for the preservation of pure faith.
2 John 1 4 Word analysis
"I" - Refers to John the Elder (cf. 2 Jn 1:1), emphasizing his personal apostolic observation and spiritual connection.
"rejoiced" - (ἐχάρην, echarēn - from chairō) - Expresses deep, genuine, and spiritual joy. It is a fundamental emotion of the believer experiencing God's work.
"greatly" - (λίαν, lian) - An intensifier, meaning "exceedingly," "very much." It magnifies the extent of John's joy, signifying a profound spiritual satisfaction, reflecting pastoral heart.
"that" - Introduces the cause or content of John's great joy.
"I have found" - (εὕρηκα, heurēka - perfect active indicative of heuriskō) - Implies a discovery, observation, or confirmation based on personal experience or reliable report. The perfect tense signifies a completed action with an ongoing result; John's joy persists because this finding remains true.
"some" - (τινῶν, tinōn) - Suggests not necessarily all, but a significant portion of the "children." This implies a recognition that not everyone might be walking perfectly, or that John's personal observation was limited to certain individuals, yet sufficient to bring great joy.
"of your children" - Spiritual "children" born into faith (Jn 1:12-13; Gal 4:26) within the community of the "elect lady." These are members of the church.
"walking" - (περιπατοῦντας, peripatountas - from peripateō) - A common biblical metaphor for conduct, manner of life, or behavior. It signifies not merely hearing or knowing the truth, but actively living it out daily in all aspects of life.
"in truth" - (ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, en alētheia) - Denotes the sphere, element, or character of their conduct. "Truth" here refers to the revelation of God, particularly in Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6), the apostolic teaching, and sound doctrine, which contrasts sharply with the "error" (cf. 2 Jn 1:7). It implies genuine faith manifested in practical righteousness.
"just as" - (καθώς, kathōs) - Establishes the standard or measure of their walk; it is not arbitrary but precisely aligned with a received instruction.
"we received" - (ἐλάβομεν, elabomen - from lambanō) - Implies an authoritative transmission and acceptance. "We" likely refers to John and his fellow apostles or those responsible for sharing God's commands. It speaks to the divinely established nature of Christian doctrine and life.
"commandment" - (ἐντολὴν, entolēn - from entolē) - Refers to a divine injunction or precept. This is the foundation of the truth in which they walk – not human traditions or philosophies, but God's authoritative Word.
"from the Father" - (παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός, para tou Patros) - Emphasizes the ultimate source and authority of this commandment. It is God the Father Himself who has ordained the way of truth, providing divine validation to the Christian life.
"rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth": This phrase captures the heart of pastoral satisfaction. John's joy stems not from personal gain or reputation, but from observing genuine spiritual life and doctrinal fidelity among those under his care. It implies careful observation and discerning judgment, essential in a time of spiritual deception. This "walking in truth" is presented as visible evidence of their spiritual well-being.
"walking in truth, just as we received commandment from the Father": This highlights the integrated nature of Christian faith and practice. Their lifestyle is not random but follows a specific, divine pattern. The phrase asserts the foundational source of their conduct: it is derived from God's commands, entrusted to the apostles, and lived out by believers. This stresses the inseparable link between true doctrine (the truth received) and true discipleship (the walking in truth).
2 John 1 4 Bonus section
The phrase "walking in truth" is a key Johannine theme, reflecting the intimate connection between spiritual state and ethical conduct. It is often contrasted with "walking in darkness" (1 Jn 1:6-7) or "walking according to the flesh." This verse sets a positive example, indicating what a genuine Christian life looks like, before moving into the negative warnings against those who deviate from this path. It suggests that fidelity to sound doctrine leads to practical righteousness, and conversely, practical righteousness is a strong indicator of fidelity to sound doctrine. The joy experienced by the apostle indicates the fulfillment of their apostolic mission: to bring believers into the true knowledge of God and His Christ, which transforms their lives. The divine origin of the commandment (from the Father) establishes its ultimate authority and immutable nature, standing firm against human innovation or perversion.
2 John 1 4 Commentary
John's expression of deep joy in 2 John 1:4 serves as both an affirmation and a pivot for his subsequent warnings. His happiness underscores the importance of a steadfast walk in truth, particularly when surrounded by seductive false teachings. "Walking in truth" encompasses living a life consistent with the divine revelation in Jesus Christ and the apostolic doctrine. It is an active, ongoing demonstration of obedience to God's commandments, flowing from a sincere acceptance of sound doctrine concerning the person and work of Christ. This lifestyle is the concrete evidence of authentic faith and the basis for genuine fellowship. John rejoices not in outward appearance, but in observable spiritual fruit rooted in God's explicit instructions, differentiating true believers from those who deny Christ and His Word. This emphasis implies that faithful conduct is not merely arbitrary morality, but a response to and embodiment of the specific commands revealed by the Father, often understood as the core message of the Gospel and its ethical implications.