2 John 1:4-6·~1 min

Walking in the Truth

John expresses joy at finding some of the children walking in the truth in accordance with the Father's command. He then urges the dear lady to continue in the old commandment to love one another. This is not a new innovation but the original message the church has heard from the beginning. John defines love as walking according to God's commandments and restates the command that they must walk in love. The paragraph shows that truth, love, and obedience belong together as one pattern of faithful life.

I⁴ was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us. ⁵And now I urge you, dear lady — not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning — that we love one another. ⁶And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

Section summaryJohn next rejoices that some of the lady's children are walking in the truth just as the Father commanded. From that joy he moves into exhortation, urging the community to continue in the command they have had from the beginning: they must love one another. He then defines this love as walking according to God's commandments, showing that love and obedience are not rivals but mutually interpreting realities.

Role in the chapterThis section calls the church to continue in a form of love that is inseparable from walking in the truth and obeying God's commands.