Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Bible Commentaries
Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament Bengel's Gnomon
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Bengel, Johann Albrecht. "Commentary on 2 John 1". Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/jab/2-john-1.html. 1897.
Bengel, Johann Albrecht. "Commentary on 2 John 1". Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/
Whole Bible (48)New Testament (18)Individual Books (10)
Verse 1
2 John 1:1 . á½ ÏÏεÏβÏÏεÏÎ¿Ï , The Elder ) This Epistle also has three parts:
I. THE INSCRIPTION, 2 John 1:1-2 .
II. THE COMMENDATION of those who practise hospitality: in which
1. He approves of the former benefits of Cains, 2 John 1:2-6 .
2. He draws forth the commendation itself, introducing reasons and examples on both sides [of a good and of the opposite character], 2 John 1:6-10 .
III. THE CONCLUSION, 2 John 1:13 .
ÎαÎῳ , to Caius ) Caius of Corinth, who is mentioned Romans 16:23 , either closely resembled this Caius, the friend of John, in his hospitality, or he was the same person: if he were the same person, he either migrated from Achaia into Asia, or John sent this letter to Corinth.
Verse 2
2 John 1:2 . Îιὰ , on account of ) Construe with á¼Î³Î±Ïá¿¶ , I love . They who love in truth, also love on account of truth. Ïὴν μÎÎ½Î¿Ï Ïαν , which abides ) which still is. It is followed by the future, shall be . Τὴν μÎÎ½Î¿Ï Ïαν καὶ á¼ÏÏαι , resolve into, WHICH abides, and shall be: 1 Corinthians 7:37 , note.
Verse 3
2 John 1:3 . á¼ÏÏαι , shall be ) ××× . A prayer, together with an affirmation. μεθʼ á½Î¼á¿¶Î½ , with you) See the App. Crit. Ed. ii. on this passage. [2] The Latin Version has vobiscum, with you: and this is properly consonant with the salutation. Comp. 3 John 1:2 . ÏάÏÎ¹Ï , á¼Î»ÎµÎ¿Ï , εἰÏήνη , grace, mercy, and peace ) Grace removes guilt; mercy removes misery; peace expresses a continuance in grace and mercy. εἰÏήνη , peace ) even under the assaults of temptation. ÎÏ ÏÎ¯Î¿Ï , Lord ) This is the only passage in which the Epistles of St John contain the title of Lord , which is well adapted to a salutation. [3] He usually calls Him the Son of God . á¼Î½ á¼Î»Î·Î¸ÎµÎ¯á¾³ καὶ á¼Î³Î¬Ïá¿ , in truth and love ) Respecting the former he speaks in 2 John 1:4 ; respecting the latter, in 2 John 1:5 . St Paul is accustomed to use the appellations, faith and love , for truth and faith are synonymous: and the Hebrew ××ת is constantly translated in the Septuagint by either word. Comp. 3 John 1:3 , the truth that is in thee .
[2] B (according to Lachm., not so Tisch.) Vulg. Elzev. Rec. Text, have á¼ÏÏαι μεθʼ á½Î¼á¿¶Î½ . But A and later Syr. omit the words. Stephens’ Rec. Text has ἡμῶν . E.
[3] But the margin of both Ed., even in this passage, prefers the omission of the word ÎÏ ÏÎ¯Î¿Ï ; and the Germ. Vers. omits it altogether. E. B.
AB Vulg. Theb. Syr. omit it. Rec. Text supports it, with Memph. and later Syr. alone of the oldest authorities. E.
Verse 4
2 John 1:4 . Îá½Ïηκα , I have found ) A thing rarely found at the present day, a joy rarely experienced. á¼Îº Ïῶν ÏÎκνÏν ÏÎ¿Ï , of thy children ) Cyria had at the least four children. Comp. 2Jn 1:1 with 2 John 1:4 . John had found these children in the house of their maternal aunt, 2 John 1:13 . ÎºÎ±Î¸á½¼Ï , even as ) The rule.
Verse 5
2 John 1:5 . Îá½Ï á½¡Ï ÎºÎ±Î¹Î½á½´Î½ , not as new ) Love performs both pages: [4] truth produces nothing else.
[4] The Old as well as the New Testament love to God, and love to our neighbour E.
Verse 6
2 John 1:6 . Îá½Ïοῦ , of Him ) the Father, 2 John 1:4 . á¼Î½ αá½Ïá¿ , in it ) in love. This verse contains a very pleasing Epanodos. [5] Î ÎΡÎÎ ÎΤá¿Î¤Î , ye walk ) He had just before said, that we walk . Now the second person answers to the verb, ye have heard ; that is, from us the apostles.
[5] Repetition of the same words in inverse order. See Append. E.
Verse 7
2 John 1:7 . á½Ïι , because ) The reason why he bids them keep the things which they have heard from the beginning . Ïολλοὶ , many ) 1Jn 2:18 ; 1 John 4:1 . εἰÏá¿Î»Î¸Î¿Î½ ) have entered . The world is averse from God and Christ, busily intent upon its own husks: but to oppose God and Christ is of the leaven of Satan. á¼ÏÏÏμενον , who came ) Thus á¼ÏÏομÎνÏν , 3 John 1:3 . Comp. á¼Î»Î·Î»Ï θÏÏα , who is come , 1 John 4:2 . οá½ÏÏÏ á¼ÏÏιν , this is ) A gradation. This very person is the character of a great impostor and antichrist. No other of a more dreadful appearance is to be sought. ÏÎ»Î¬Î½Î¿Ï , a seducer ) opposed to God. á¼Î½ÏίÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï , antichrist ) opposed to Christ. The warning against antichrist belongs even to women and young men: 1 John 1:4-5 . Antichrist denies the Father and the Son; and does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
Verse 8
2 John 1:8 . á¼Î±Ï ÏÎ¿á½ºÏ , your own selves ) in my absence. ἵνα μὴ á¼ÏολÎÏηÏε , κ . Ï . λ .) I think that the apostle wrote: ἵνα μὴ á¼ÏολÎÏηÏε ἠεἰÏγάÏαÏθε , á¼Î»Î»á½° μιÏθὸν ÏλήÏη á¼ÏολάβÏμεν , that ye lose not the things which ye have wrought, but that we receive a full reward . [6] Whence some have put the whole admonitory sentence in the second person, others again, afterwards, in the first person. á¼Î»Î»á½° , but ) There is no half reward of the saints; it is either lost altogether, or received in full. There is a direct opposition. We must however consider the different degrees in glory. ÏλήÏη , full ) In full communion with God: 2 John 1:9 .
[6] The margin of the 2d Ed. and also the Germ. Vers. are in consonance. But in respect to the second member, the Germ. Version is at variance with the opinion here given, for it retains the second person; and in this very particular confirms the observation of the Gnomon, which presently follows, on the word á¼Î»Î»Î¬ . E. B.
AB Vulg. Iren. Lucif. read á¼ÏολÎÏηÏε and á¼ÏολάβηÏε : Rec. Text, with inferior authorities, á¼ÏολÎÏÏμεν and á¼ÏολάβÏμεν . E.
Verse 9
2 John 1:9 . á½ ÏαÏαβαινÏν , he who transgresseth ) from perfidy. á¼Î½ ÏῠδιδαÏá¿ Ïοῦ ΧÏιÏÏοῦ , in the doctrine of Christ ) in the doctrine which teaches that Jesus is the Christ , the Son of God. οá½ÏÎ¿Ï ) he , I say.
Verse 10
2 John 1:10 . á¼ÏÏεÏαι , comes ) as a teacher or brother. ÏαÏÏην ) this , of Christ. οὠÏÎÏει , does not bring ) by a true profession. καὶ ) and moreover. ÏαίÏειν , salutation ) Let him be to you as a heathen, to whom however a salutation is more safely addressed: 1 Corinthians 5:10 . He is speaking of a familiar greeting, and that of brethren and Christians. Salutations appear to have been more unusual of old among strangers and foreigners.
Verse 11
2 John 1:11 . Îá½°Ï , for ) Severity in love. κοινÏνεῠ, he partakes ) For he declares him to be capable of joy and salvation, even in that antichristian state. [The bearings and relations of purer doctrine are of the nicest kind. V. g.] á¼ÏÎ³Î¿Î¹Ï ) his works: opposed to faith and love. Ïοá¿Ï ÏονηÏοá¿Ï , evil ) On the contrary, the partaking in good works brings a blessing.
Verse 12
2 John 1:12 . Πολλὰ ) many things , of a joyful character. This therefore, which the apostle writes, was especially necessary, and admitted of no delay. οá½Îº á¼ Î²Î¿Ï Î»Î®Î¸Î·Î½ , I did not wish ) The very task of writing is not always pleasing to a heart full of sacred love. διὰ ÏάÏÏÎ¿Ï ÎºÎ±á½¶ μÎÎ»Î±Î½Î¿Ï , with paper and ink ) ΤαÏείνÏÏÎ¹Ï , [7] a lowering of the style. Put in antithesis to face to face . For this short Epistle, the apostle made use of paper , and not parchment.
[7] ΤαÏείνÏÏÎ¹Ï , as water for baptism , Acts 10:47 . T.
Verse 13
2 John 1:13 . á¼ÏÏάζεÏαί Ïε , salute you ) The courteousness of the apostle is seen, who announces the salutation in the words of the children. [Most delightful fellowship between the apostle and his juniors. V. g.] [8]
[8] Bengel, J. A. (1866). Vol. 5 : Gnomon of the New Testament (M. E. Bengel & J. C. F. Steudel, Ed.) (W. Fletcher, Trans.) (155 158). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.