2 John 1:6 kjv

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

2 John 1:6 nkjv

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

2 John 1:6 niv

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

2 John 1:6 esv

And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

2 John 1:6 nlt

Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

2 John 1 verses

2 John 1 6 Meaning

2 John 1:6 explains that the very definition and essence of Christian love is living a life aligned with God's commandments. It emphasizes that this instruction to walk in obedience and love is not a new revelation but a foundational truth heard and taught from the inception of their Christian faith. The verse establishes an inseparable link between genuine love and active obedience, asserting that righteous conduct is the tangible expression of one's love for God and fellow believers, and that this obedience itself stems from and contributes to a life lived in the truth of Christ.

2 John 1 6 Context

This verse is part of John's second epistle, addressed to "the elect lady and her children," likely a church and its members. The letter focuses on the importance of adhering to the truth and walking in love, serving as a warning against deceivers, likely those promoting doctrines that deny the true humanity of Christ (Docetism) or separate belief from behavior. Verse 6 directly follows John's plea in verse 5 for the church to love one another, framed as an "old commandment" not a new one. This entire chapter emphasizes discernment between true Christian teaching (which necessitates both love and obedience) and false teaching (which undermines either). Historically, John is addressing communities facing early Gnostic-like influences that might rationalize spiritual enlightenment over practical righteousness or deny the full incarnation of Christ, thereby devaluing His earthly commands. The emphasis on "walking according to His commandments" combats any antinomian tendencies or spiritual detachment from ethical living.

2 John 1 6 Word analysis

• And (καὶ, kai): A simple connective, yet crucial, linking this definition of love to the previous assertion of "truth" (verse 4) and the commandment of "love" (verse 5). It shows continuity and expansion upon the themes already introduced.
• this is love (αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη, hautē estin hē agapē): This is a definitional statement, asserting what love is in its truest Christian form. Agapē signifies God's divine, self-giving, intentional love, distinct from mere affection. Here, John defines practical, active love.
• that we walk (ἵνα περιπατῶμεν, hina peripatōmen): Hina introduces purpose or result. Peripatōmen (from peripateō) literally means "to walk around," but in a metaphorical and theological sense, it signifies one's conduct, manner of life, or spiritual journey. It implies a continuous and consistent way of living, not just isolated acts.
• according to His commandments (κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ, kata tas entolas autou): Kata means "according to," "in conformity with," or "in agreement with." Entolas refers to divine instructions, rules, or decrees. In Johannine thought, this includes not only the moral aspects of the Mosaic Law but specifically the teachings and precepts given by Christ, with the new commandment of love (Jn 13:34-35) as central. Obedience is the framework and expression of true love.
• This is the commandment (αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολή, hautē estin hē entolē): A deliberate reiteration and inversion of the previous statement, linking "the commandment" back to "love." It presents obedience as the very essence of the commandment. The singular "commandment" refers back to the central instruction of loving one another.
• just as you heard (καθὼς ἠκούσατε, kathōs ēkousate): Kathōs means "just as," indicating that the message is consistent with what was previously taught. It appeals to their initial reception of the gospel message and apostolic teaching.
• from the beginning (ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς, ap’ archēs): This phrase emphasizes the ancient, original, and unchanging nature of the truth. It signifies the start of their Christian instruction and the foundational message of the gospel as proclaimed by the apostles, contrasting it with any novel, false teachings.
• that you should walk in it (ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ περιπατῆτε, hina en autē peripatētē): Reinforces the purpose and necessity of consistent living. "In it" (en autē) refers to "the commandment" (meaning to walk in love) or to love itself, underscoring that the command is for them to live out this love. The command is not just a directive but the sphere within which believers are to conduct their entire lives.

Words-group analysis:

• "And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.": This phrase establishes a vital theological principle: love is not merely an emotion or feeling, but an active demonstration through obedience to God's revealed will. It refutes any notion that spirituality can be divorced from ethical living. True Christian love finds its concrete expression in following Christ's directives.
• "This is the commandment, just as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.": This segment clarifies and strengthens the preceding statement. It emphasizes that the central, foundational commandment that the readers have always known and heard (likely the commandment to love one another, as detailed in John's other writings) is precisely this call to a life of obedience motivated by and expressed as love. "From the beginning" highlights the unchanging nature of this core truth in contrast to shifting, erroneous teachings.

2 John 1 6 Bonus section

• The circularity of definition ("love is walking according to commandments" and "the commandment is to walk in love") is a common Johannine literary technique, highlighting the profound interrelationship and indivisibility of these concepts. One cannot exist authentically without the other.
• The emphasis on "the beginning" is significant for counteracting Gnostic influences which often proposed "new" revelations or secret knowledge. John affirms that the fundamental truths about God, love, and obedience were present from the very start of the Christian message and community.
• The "commandments" (plural) refer to the breadth of Christ's teachings, yet "the commandment" (singular) likely points to the overarching summary given by Christ: the command to love God and neighbor, and particularly the "new commandment" to love one another as He has loved them.

2 John 1 6 Commentary

2 John 1:6 serves as a concise, yet profound, theological and practical summary of true Christian life. It asserts that love for God is intrinsically expressed through obedience to His commandments, particularly the command to love one another, as consistently taught from the inception of their faith. John uses "love" and "commandment" in an almost interchangeable or cyclical manner, indicating their inseparable nature. True love is active obedience, and the command is itself to walk in love, thus creating a dynamic, self-reinforcing truth. This definition stands as a counter-narrative to emerging false teachings that might intellectualize faith, promote lawlessness, or diminish the significance of Christ's ethical demands. For the recipients of the letter, this verse would have been a direct call to discerning righteous behavior as proof of abiding in the truth and rejecting those who claimed knowledge of God but denied Him through their conduct. It is a reminder that spiritual life is practical, manifested in a way of living that honors Christ's teachings, consistent with the foundational message of the gospel they originally received.