2 John 1:1

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

[This is being written by] the elder to the lady chosen [by God], and to her children [Note: The terms “lady” and “children” here refer to a congregation and the Christians who belong to it. See I Peter 5:13; II John 13], whom I love in the truth. [Note: This phrase probably means “whom I truly love”]. And I am not the only one [to love you], but all those [other congregations] who know the truth [of God], also love you.

Cross References

1 John 3:18

Little children [i.e., dear ones], we should not [merely] claim to love [people], or [even just] talk about it, but [we should love] by what we do [for them] in a genuine way.

1 Timothy 2:4

who wants all people to be saved and come to a [full] knowledge of the truth.

John 8:32

And you will know what the truth is and the truth will set you free [i.e. from bondage to sin].”

2 John 1:5

And now I ask you, lady [See verse 1], not as though writing a new commandment to you, but [I wanted to remind you of] one that we had [heard] from the beginning [of Christ’s ministry]: [It is] that we should love one another.

1 Peter 5:1

So, the elders in the various places where you live, are to receive the following exhortation. (I too, am an elder and have witnessed the sufferings of Christ, and am also assured of partaking of the glorious [salvation, 1:5] that will someday be revealed).

2 John 1:13

The children [i.e., members] of your chosen sister [i.e., church] send you their greetings. [See verse 1].

1 John 2:21

I did not write to you people because you are ignorant of the truth [about these matters], but because you do know it, and because nothing false belongs to the true teaching.

1 Peter 1:2

These people have been [specially] selected, and [their acceptance was] pre-planned by God the Father, and they were set apart through [the work of] the Holy Spirit. This resulted in their obedience and sprinkling [Note: This is a figurative reference to the Old Testament practice of cleansing, See Exodus 24:7-8] by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God’s unearned favor and peace be continually upon you.

Hebrews 10:26

For if we go on sinning intentionally, after we have received the full knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for [our] sins.

Galatians 5:7

You [Christians] were running [the race of life] well; who hindered you [from making further progress] so that [now] you are no longer obeying the truth?

Galatians 3:1

You foolish people [of the churches] of Galatia [Note: This was a province in present-day Turkey], who tricked you? Was not Jesus Christ graphically portrayed before you as being put to death on a cross?

Galatians 2:14

But, when I saw that they did not act in harmony with [the principles of] the truth of the Gospel [message], I said to Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, being a Jew, act like a Gentile [by showing such discrimination], how do you expect to persuade Gentiles to live like Jews [i.e., like Christian Jews who are taught to love all people]?”

Galatians 2:5

But we did not submit ourselves to their influence for even an hour, so that you people might be able to continue [following] the truth of the Gospel.

Colossians 1:5

[You have these qualities] because of the hope stored up for you in heaven, which [hope] you previously heard about through the message of truth when the Gospel

Luke 1:3

I have thoroughly investigated the entire series of events [myself], I felt it would be good for me also to write you an orderly account of them.

Acts 11:30

So, they sent [what was donated] to the elders [of the Judean churches] by Barnabas and Saul.

Romans 16:13

Greetings to Rufus, an outstanding servant in [the service of] the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me also.

1 Peter 5:13

Your sister [church] here in Babylon, [also] chosen [by God], as you have been, sends her greetings along with my [spiritual] son Mark.

3 John 1:1

[This is being written by] the elder to my dear [friend] Gaius, whom I love in the truth. [Note: This probably means “whom I truly love”].