2 John 1:9 kjv
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:9 nkjv
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:9 niv
Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:9 esv
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:9 nlt
Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Abiding/Remaining in Teaching | ||
| 1 Jn 2:24 | Let what you heard... abide in you; if what... you abide..., you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. | Emphasizes abiding in original truth. |
| 1 Jn 2:27 | ...the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need... teach you. | Divine indwelling for discernment. |
| 1 Jn 2:28 | And now, little children, abide in him, so that... we may have confidence... | Assurance through remaining in Christ. |
| Jn 15:4 | Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides... | Christ as the source of spiritual life. |
| Adhering to Sound Doctrine | ||
| Tit 2:10 | ...adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in everything. | Living out sound teaching. |
| 1 Tim 4:6 | If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine... | Importance of teaching true doctrine. |
| Mt 28:20 | Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you... | The commission to teach Christ's commands. |
| Gal 1:8 | But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached... let him be accursed. | Severe warning against false gospel. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction... | Source and authority of true doctrine. |
| Consequences of Rejecting Truth/Losing God | ||
| 1 Jn 5:12 | Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. | Direct link between Son and life. |
| 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 sole path to the Father. |
| Jn 17:3 | And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. | Eternal life tied to knowing Father & Son. |
| Rom 8:9 | ...If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. | Possession of Christ's Spirit indicates belonging. |
| Nature of False Teaching/Antichrists | ||
| 2 Jn 1:7 | For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. | Defines the specific false teaching. |
| 1 Jn 2:18 | Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come... | Rise of many who deny Christ. |
| 1 Jn 4:2-3 | By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God... | Test for discerning true vs. false spirits. |
| 2 Pet 2:1 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies... | Prophecy of destructive heresies. |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain people have crept in unnoticed... who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. | People who deny the Lordship of Christ. |
| Unity of Father and Son in Relationship | ||
| Jn 10:30 | I and the Father are one. | Expresses the essential unity of Father and Son. |
| Jn 14:9 | ...Whoever has seen me has seen the Father... | Knowing Jesus reveals the Father. |
| Phil 2:6 | ...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped... | Christ's pre-existence and equality with God. |
2 John 1 verses
2 John 1 9 Meaning
2 John 1:9 declares that anyone who transgresses beyond the foundational teaching concerning Christ does not possess a true relationship with God. Conversely, whoever faithfully continues and abides within the parameters of this core doctrine maintains a vital, saving relationship with both God the Father and God the Son. The verse underscores the critical importance of orthodox Christology for genuine fellowship with God.
2 John 1 9 Context
The Second Epistle of John is a concise letter from "the elder," likely the Apostle John, addressed to "the elect lady and her children," widely understood to be either a particular local church and its members or a specific Christian woman and her family. Its primary purpose is twofold: to exhort believers to walk in truth and love, and crucially, to warn them against deceptive teachers (false brethren) who threaten the integrity of the Christian community.
Verse 9 stands as a pivotal warning against these specific false teachings, particularly those that denied the true incarnation of Jesus Christ (mentioned in v. 7, "do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh"). This error, often identified with early forms of Gnosticism or Docetism, claimed that Christ did not truly come in human flesh but only appeared to. John explicitly states that anyone promoting or believing such a doctrine is not merely in error but fundamentally alienated from God. The letter emphasizes that love must be grounded in truth, and that extending hospitality to those who propagate false doctrine is tantamount to participating in their evil deeds (v. 10-11). Therefore, 2 John 1:9 clarifies the severe consequences of straying from foundational Christological truth.
2 John 1 9 Word analysis
- Everyone who goes on ahead (
proagō): The Greekproagōcan mean "to go forth," "to go before," or "to lead." In this context, with the negative "does not abide," it signifies transgressing, advancing beyond, or straying from the established and true boundary. It refers to those who claim new, "deeper" insights or knowledge that in fact leave behind the core teachings about Christ. It can also suggest arrogant presumption. - and does not abide (
kai ou menō): The Greekmenōmeans "to remain," "to dwell," or "to continue." It is a vital term in John's writings, denoting steadfastness, endurance, and faithful adherence to a person or teaching. To "not abide" signifies abandonment, desertion, or failure to remain in the sphere of truth. This is not about slight misunderstanding but a fundamental departure. - in the teaching of Christ (
en tē didachē tou Christou):Didachērefers to "teaching" or "doctrine." "Of Christ" (tou Christou) is likely a subjective genitive, meaning the teaching that belongs to Christ, that originates from Christ, and is revealed by Christ. It encompasses the full body of truth about Jesus—His person (fully God and fully man), His work (atonement, resurrection), and His words. This includes the apostolic witness concerning Him, His nature, and His saving mission. It is the uncompromised gospel truth, particularly concerning Christ's incarnation (v. 7). - does not have God. (
theon ouk echei): To "not have God" signifies a complete lack of genuine relationship, fellowship, or saving knowledge of God. If one rejects the truth concerning Christ, the unique revealer of the Father, one cannot truly know or possess God. It indicates spiritual alienation and a state outside of saving grace. - Whoever abides (
ho menōn): This reiterates the opposite of "going on ahead." It means whoever consistently, steadfastly, and faithfully continues to dwell within and adhere to. - in the teaching has (
en tē didachē houtos echei): Possessing the truth and being firmly rooted in it. - both the Father and the Son. (
kai ton Patera kai ton Huion): This highlights the essential unity and interconnectedness within the Godhead in relation to salvation and true knowledge. A true relationship with God inherently involves both the Father and the Son. One cannot have the Father without the Son (Jn 14:6-7) or the Son without the Father. To affirm one truly means to affirm the other, and to reject the teaching about Christ means to sever ties with the entirety of the triune God in revelation and relationship.
Words-group analysis:
- "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ": This phrase precisely defines the nature of the false teachers John is confronting. They are not merely misinformed but actively "advance beyond" or "transgress" the established, foundational revelation concerning Jesus Christ. Their "progress" is actually a regression from the truth, demonstrating an unwillingness to remain steadfast in sound doctrine. This portrays them as rebellious against established apostolic teaching.
- "does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.": This sharp contrast outlines the severe spiritual consequence of doctrinal deviation versus the profound blessing of doctrinal fidelity. The stakes are ultimate: genuine spiritual relationship (having God, Father, and Son) is contingent upon embracing and holding fast to the revealed truth of Christ. It demonstrates the Trinitarian nature of true salvation and fellowship; denying fundamental Christology is denying the very nature of God Himself.
2 John 1 9 Bonus section
The strong emphasis on "the teaching of Christ" highlights that John is defending objective truth, a fixed body of doctrine delivered by the apostles. It combats the relativistic notion that all beliefs are equally valid. The term proagō ("goes on ahead") likely carries an ironic or negative connotation here. Those who thought they were spiritually superior or progressing to a deeper truth (proagō can mean 'to make progress') were, in John’s view, actually moving away from God. This also indirectly points to the idea that true Christian growth is deepening within the existing framework of apostolic teaching, not by inventing new doctrines or abandoning old ones. The verse acts as a boundary marker, distinguishing genuine faith from destructive heresy, urging the elect lady and her children to remain within these boundaries.
2 John 1 9 Commentary
2 John 1:9 is a forceful declaration of the critical link between sound doctrine and genuine fellowship with God. It asserts that to deviate from the revealed teaching of Christ, especially concerning His divine-human person (as implied by verse 7's context of denying Christ in the flesh), is to forfeit all authentic relationship with God the Father and God the Son. This isn't about minor theological differences but about abandoning the very foundation of Christian faith—who Jesus truly is and what He accomplished. John makes it clear that progressive spiritual understanding does not mean abandoning established truth; true spiritual progress means deeper engagement with and adherence to the foundational teachings concerning Christ. Remaining steadfast in this truth ensures spiritual life and a vibrant, direct communion with both the Father and the Son, who are unified in salvation and revelation. It emphasizes that sound Christology is not an optional add-on but an absolute necessity for true Christianity.