en_tn/en_tn_64-2JN.tsv

9.8 KiB
Raw Permalink Blame History

1BookChapterVerseIDSupportReferenceOrigQuoteOccurrenceGLQuoteOccurrenceNote
22JNfrontintrovpa90

Introduction to 2 John

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the Book of 2 John

  1. Greeting (1:1-3)
  2. Encouragement and the greatest commandment (1:4-6)
  3. Warning about false teachers (1:711)
  4. Greetings from fellow believers (1:12-13)

Who wrote the Book of 2 John?

The letter does not name of the author. The author only identified himself as “the elder.” The letter was probably written by the Apostle John near the end of his life. The content of 2 John is similar to the content in Johns Gospel.

What is the Book of 2 John about?

John addressed this letter to someone he called “the chosen lady” and to “her children” (1:1). This could refer to a specific friend and her children. Or it could refer to a specific group of believers or to believers in general. Johns purpose in writing this letter was to warn his audience about false teachers. John did not want believers helping or giving money to false teachers. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

How should the title of this book be translated?

Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, “2 John” or “Second John.” Or they may choose a clearer title, such as “The Second Letter from John” or “The Second Letter John Wrote.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

What is hospitality?

Hospitality was an important concept in the ancient Near East. It was important to be friendly towards foreigners or outsiders and provide help to them if they needed it. John wanted believers to offer hospitality to guests. However, he did not want believers to offer hospitality to false teachers.

Who were the people John spoke against?

The people John spoke against were possibly those who would become known as Gnostics. These people believed that the physical world was evil. Since they believed Jesus was divine, they denied that he was truly human. This is because they thought God would not become human since the physical body is evil. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/evil]])

32JN11ma4cfigs-you0General Information:

Tradition identifies the apostle John as the writer of this letter. Though possibly addressed to an individual woman, because he writes that they should “love one another,” this is probably to a church. All instances of “you” and “your” in this letter are plural unless noted otherwise. In this letter, John includes himself and his readers by using the word “us” and “our.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-inclusive]])

42JN11z4tkfigs-explicitὁ πρεσβύτερος; ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς1From the elder to the chosen lady and her children

This is how letters were started. The name of the author can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “I, John the elder, am writing this letter to the chosen lady and her children” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

52JN11z9f1ὁ πρεσβύτερος1the elder

This refers to John, the apostle and disciple of Jesus. He refers to himself as “elder” either because of his old age or because he is a leader in the church.

62JN11y7hwfigs-metaphorἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς1to the chosen lady and her children

This probably refers to a congregation and the believers that belong to it. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

72JN13vpl9guidelines-sonofgodprinciplesΠατρός…Υἱοῦ1Father…Son

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples]])

82JN13w6trfigs-hendiadysἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγάπῃ1in truth and love

The word “truth” describes “love.” Possibly it means “in true love.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]])

92JN14ir6vfigs-youτῶν τέκνων σου1your children

The word “your” is singular. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])

102JN14s7hrκαθὼς ἐντολὴν ἐλάβομεν παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός1just as we have received this commandment from the Father

“just as God the Father commanded us”

112JN15c9xifigs-youσε, κυρία…γράφων σοι1you, lady…writing to you

These instances of “you” are singular. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])

122JN15u38fοὐχ ὡς ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφων σοι1not as though I were writing to you a new commandment

“not as though I were commanding you to do something new”

132JN15uhs8figs-explicitἀλλὰ ἣν εἴχαμεν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς1but one that we have had from the beginning

Here, “beginning” refers to “when we first believed.” Alternate translation: “but I am writing to you what Christ commanded us to do when we first believed. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

142JN15vmm8ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους1beginning—that we should love one another

This can be translated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: “beginning. He commanded that we should love one another”

152JN16nw4gfigs-metaphorαὕτη ἡ ἐντολή ἐστιν, καθὼς ἠκούσατε ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ περιπατῆτε1This is the commandment, just as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it

Conducting our lives according to Gods commands is spoken of as if we were walking in them. The word “it” refers to love. “And he has commanded you, since you first believed, to love one another” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

162JN17u3vi0Connecting Statement:

John warns them of deceivers, reminds them to remain in Christs teaching, and warns them to stay away from those who do not remain in Christs teaching.

172JN17w25mὅτι πολλοὶ πλάνοι ἐξῆλθαν εἰς τὸν κόσμον1For many deceivers have gone out into the world

“For many false teachers have left the congregation” or “For many deceivers are in the world”

182JN17f9e2πολλοὶ πλάνοι1many deceivers

“many false teachers” or “many imposters”

192JN17x8ylfigs-metonymyἸησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐρχόμενον ἐν σαρκί1Jesus Christ came in the flesh

Coming in the flesh is a metonym for being a real person. Alternate translation: “Jesus Christ came as a real human” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

202JN17wbp6οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ πλάνος καὶ ὁ ἀντίχριστος1This is the deceiver and the antichrist

“They are the ones who deceive others and oppose Christ himself”

212JN18it9tβλέπετε ἑαυτούς1Look to yourselves

“Watch out” or “Pay attention”

222JN18b91rἀπολέσητε ἃ1lose the things

“lose your future rewards in heaven”

232JN18eu46μισθὸν πλήρη1full reward

“complete reward in heaven”

242JN19mn3vπᾶς ὁ προάγων1Whoever goes on ahead

This refers to a person who claims to know more about God and truth than everyone else. Alternate translation: “Whoever claims to know more about God” or “Whoever disobeys the truth”

252JN19xty9Θεὸν οὐκ ἔχει1does not have God

“does not belong to God”

262JN19x523ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ, οὗτος καὶ τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν ἔχει1The one who remains in the teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son

“Someone who follows Christs teaching belongs to both the Father and the Son”

272JN19k8cvguidelines-sonofgodprinciplesτὸν Πατέρα καὶ τὸν Υἱὸν1the Father and the Son

These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples]])

282JN110ls1cλαμβάνετε αὐτὸν εἰς οἰκίαν1receive him into your house

Here this means to welcome him and treat him with honor in order to build a relationship with him.

292JN111n7ztκοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς1participates in his evil deeds

“shares with him in his evil deeds” or “helps him in his evil deeds”

302JN112nx77figs-you0General Information:

The words “you” in verse 12 are singular. The word “your” in verse 13 is plural. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])

312JN112y4gw0Connecting Statement:

Johns letter closes with his desire to visit them and gives greetings from another church.

322JN112gq26οὐκ ἐβουλήθην διὰ χάρτου καὶ μέλανος1I did not wish to write them with paper and ink

John does not wish to write these other things but would like to come say the words to them. He is not saying that he would write them with something other than paper and ink.

332JN112v4v2figs-idiomστόμα πρὸς στόμα λαλῆσαι1speak face to face

“Face to face” here is an idiom, meaning to speak in their presence. Alternate translation: “speak in your presence” or “speak to you in person” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

342JN113fh6jfigs-metaphorτὰ τέκνα τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου τῆς ἐκλεκτῆς1The children of your chosen sister

Here John speaks of this other church as if it were a sister to the readers church and the believers that are a part of that church as if they were that churchs children. This emphasizes that all believers are a spiritual family. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])