2 John 1:4

1:4-6 It is good to be trained to early religion; and children may be beloved for their parents' sake. It gave great joy to the apostle to see children treading in their parents' steps, and likely in their turn to support the gospel. May God bless such families more and more, and raise up many to copy their example. How pleasing the contrast to numbers who spread irreligion, infidelity, and vice, among their children! Our walk is true, our converse right, when according to the word of God. This commandment of mutual Christian love, may be said to be a new one, in respect of its being declared by the Lord Christ; yet, as to the matter, it is old. And this is love to our own souls, that we obey the Divine commands. The foresight of the decay of this love, as well as of other apostacies, or fallings away, might engage the apostle to urge this duty, and this command, frequently and earnestly.

2 John 1:4 . I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children — That is, some of thy children; walking in truth — In a manner agreeable to the gospel. It is probable that John speaks of such of her children as he had met with in the course of his travels, probably at their aunt’s house, 2 John 1:13 ; and that having conversed with them, and observed their conduct, he had found reason to conclude that they were truly pious, and sound in the faith. After their return home, it seems, he inscribed this letter to them as well as to their mother, and by the commendation which he bestowed on them in it, he no doubt encouraged them much to persevere in the truth. By the joy which this circumstance gave the apostle, was manifested the disposition of a faithful minister of Christ; for such derive great happiness from the faith and holiness of their disciples.

(2) St. John had lately had opportunity of observing bow some of the matron’s children proved their adherence to the truth by their daily conduct. Having congratulated her about this, he states the chief thing which he desires of her: the pure Christian love which implies every other grace and virtue; in other words, walking after the divine commandments. That this love should be pure, that these commandments should be unimpaired, it was necessary to remember that nothing new could be added to the original message of Christ. This warning was timely, because many errors had already appeared, especially that greatest error which denied the Incarnation. The family must, therefore, be on its guard, lest it should be cheated of its reward. The test was very simple: any advance beyond the doctrine of Christ. It would be better for the family not to entertain in their house any who had committed themselves to these doctrines of development ( 2John 1:4-11 ). (2 a.) (4) I rejoiced . . .—Comp. Romans 1:8; 1Corinthians 1:4; 2Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3. Of thy children.—Probably those met at home. Walking in truth.—Comp. John 8:12; 1John 1:6-7; 1John 2:6; 3John 1:3-4. As we have received a commandment.—That is, walking according to the revelation of God’s will in Christ Jesus. (2 b.) (5) Love is the Christian’s moral disposition of mind, which embraces all other virtues and graces.

It implies faith, because it is founded on Christian principle, and can only be tested by a right belief. It implies purity, because it is modelled on the love of God, and has abjured the old man. It implies unselfishness, because it desires the good of the other for his own sake and God’s. It implies humility, because it distrusts itself, relies on God, and thinks more of the other than of itself. (Comp. John 13:14; John 15:12; 1 Corinthians 13; Ephesians 5:2; 1Peter 4:8; 1John 3:11; 1John 3:23; 1John 4:7; 1John 4:21.) Not as though.—See the Notes on 1John 2:7-8; 1John 3:11. (2 100) (6) The attitude of love in general, whether towards God or man, is best defined and described as “walking after God’s commandments.” It might have been thought that love would be a vague immeasurable feeling, differing chiefly in intensity; but the Christian disposition which is described as love is that practical and enlightened result of faith which naturally acts and expresses itself by following God’s will in all things. (Comp. 1John 4:7; 1John 4:16.) (2 d.) This is the commandment.—The sum of all God’s commandments for us is this: that we should be doers of the word which we have heard since first Christ began to fulfil the Law and the Prophets, and not of any other. All development from what He said, or from what we have repeated from Him is disobedience and error. (Comp. 1John 2:24.) (2 e.) The appearance of deceivers is the reason for this warning against false progress (2John 1:7).

2 John 1:4 . Εὓρηκα , I have found ) A thing rarely found at the present day, a joy rarely experienced.— ἐκ τῶν τέκνων σου , of thy children ) Cyria had at the least four children. Comp. 2 John 1:1 with 2 John 1:4 . John had found these children in the house of their maternal aunt, 2 John 1:13 .— καθὼς , even as ) The rule.

{2} I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in {d} truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. (2) This true profession consists both in love towards one another which the Lord has commanded, and also especially in wholesome and sound doctrine, which also is delivered to us: for the commandment of God is a sound and sure foundation both of the rule of conduct and of doctrine, and these cannot be separated from one another, (d) According as the truth directs them.

2 John 1:4 . The Occasion of the Epistle. “I was exceedingly glad because I have found some of thy children walking in Truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.” ἐχάρην , of a glad surprise ( cf. Mark 14:11 ). He had been too often disappointed in lads like these (see Introd., p. 155). They had profited by the nurture of their godly home, the best equipment for the battle of life. “No man should ever leave money to his children. It is a curse to them. What we should do for our children, if we would do them the best service we can, is to give them the best training we can procure for them, and then turn them loose in the world without a sixpence to fend for themselves” (Cecil John Rhodes). εὕρηκα , “I have found”. He sits down at once and writes to Kyria. How glad she would be that her lads, far away in the great city were true to their early faith! ἐκ τῶν τέκνων , “some of thy children” (a tenderer word than “sons,” υἱῶν ), “members of thy family,” not implying that others had done ill; the lads who had come to Ephesus. περιπατοῦντας , κ . τ . λ ., ambulantes in veritate, die in der Wahrheit wandeln , “ordering their lives according to the precepts of the Gospel”. See note on 1 John 1:6 .