2 John 1:6
New International Version
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

New Living Translation
Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

English Standard Version
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

Berean Standard Bible
And 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.

Berean Literal Bible
And this is love, that we should walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

King James Bible
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

New King James Version
This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

New American Standard Bible
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you are to walk in it.

NASB 1995
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

NASB 1977
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

Legacy Standard Bible
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

Amplified Bible
And this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should [always] walk in love.

Christian Standard Bible
This is love: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.

American Standard Version
And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.

Contemporary English Version
Love means we do what God tells us. And from the beginning, he told you to love him.

English Revised Version
And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Love means that we live by doing what he commands. We were commanded to live in love, and you have heard this from the beginning.

Good News Translation
This love I speak of means that we must live in obedience to God's commands. The command, as you have all heard from the beginning, is that you must all live in love.

International Standard Version
And this is what demonstrates love: that we live according to God's commandments. Just as you have heard from the beginning what he commanded, you must live by it.

Majority Standard Bible
And 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.

NET Bible
(Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it.

New Heart English Bible
This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

Webster's Bible Translation
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, that as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Weymouth New Testament
The love of which I am speaking consists in our living in obedience to God's commands. God's command is that you should live in obedience to what you all heard from the very beginning.

World English Bible
This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and this is love, that we may walk according to His commands; this is the command, even as you heard from the beginning, that you may walk in it,

Berean Literal Bible
And this is love, that we should walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

Young's Literal Translation
and this is the love, that we may walk according to His commands; this is the command, even as ye did hear from the beginning, that in it ye may walk,

Smith's Literal Translation
And this is love, that we walk about according to his commands. This is the command, That as ye heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And this is charity, that we walk according to his commandments. For this is the commandment, that, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in the same:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. For this is the commandment that you have heard in the same way from the beginning, and in which you should walk.

New American Bible
For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.

New Revised Standard Version
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should follow it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandment; this commandment is according to what you have heard from the beginning, in which you have been walking.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

Godbey New Testament
And this is the divine love, that we may walk about according to his commandments; this is the commandment, That, as you heard from the beginning, that you may walk about in it.

Haweis New Testament
And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, as ye have heard from the beginning, That ye should walk in it.

Mace New Testament
now love consists in the practice of the divine precepts, this is the precept you have originally receiv'd, as the rule of your conduct.

Weymouth New Testament
The love of which I am speaking consists in our living in obedience to God's commands. God's command is that you should live in obedience to what you all heard from the very beginning.

Worrell New Testament
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandment. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.

Worsley New Testament
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Walking in the Truth
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. 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.…

Cross References
John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,

1 John 2:3-5
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. / If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. / But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:

1 John 3:23-24
And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. / Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.

1 John 4:21
And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

2 John 1:5
And 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.

Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ...

Romans 13:8-10
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. / The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

James 2:8
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

Deuteronomy 6:5
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, / and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?

Joshua 22:5
But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”


Treasury of Scripture

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

this is love.

John 14:15,21
If ye love me, keep my commandments…

John 15:10,14
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love…

Romans 13:8,9
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law…

This is the.

2 John 1:5
And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

1 John 2:24
Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

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2 John 1
1. He exhorts a certain honorable matron, with her children, to persevere in Christian love and belief,
8. lest they lose the reward of their former profession;
10. and to have nothing to do with those seducers that bring not the true doctrine of Christ Jesus.














And this is love
The phrase "And this is love" introduces a definition of love that is deeply rooted in the Christian faith. The Greek word for love here is "agape," which signifies a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. This is the highest form of love, often associated with divine love. In the context of 2 John, this love is not merely an emotion but an active commitment to the well-being of others, reflecting the love God has for humanity. Historically, the early Christian community was known for its radical expressions of love, which set it apart from the surrounding culture. This love is foundational to Christian ethics and is a reflection of God's nature.

that we walk according to His commandments
The phrase "that we walk according to His commandments" emphasizes the practical outworking of love in the life of a believer. The Greek word for "walk" is "peripateo," which means to conduct one's life or to live. This suggests that love is not just a feeling but a way of life that is demonstrated through obedience to God's commandments. The term "commandments" refers to the teachings and instructions given by God, particularly those found in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. In the historical context of the early church, adherence to these commandments was a distinguishing mark of true believers, setting them apart from false teachers and heretical movements.

This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning
The phrase "This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning" points to the continuity and consistency of the Christian message. The "beginning" refers to the initial teachings of Jesus and the apostles, which were foundational to the faith. The Greek word for "commandment" is "entole," which implies an authoritative directive. This highlights the importance of adhering to the original teachings of the faith, as opposed to new or divergent doctrines. Historically, the early church faced numerous challenges from false teachings, and this exhortation serves as a reminder to remain faithful to the apostolic tradition.

that you must walk in love
The phrase "that you must walk in love" reiterates the call to live a life characterized by love. The imperative "must" underscores the necessity and urgency of this command. The repetition of the concept of "walking" in love reinforces the idea that love is an active, ongoing practice. In the scriptural context, love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10) and the greatest of all virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). This call to walk in love is not only a personal mandate but also a communal one, as it fosters unity and harmony within the body of Christ. Historically, the early Christians' commitment to love was a powerful testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Verse 6. - And this is love; i.e., the love which the commandment enjoins consists in this - active and unremitting obedience. Just as in the sphere of thought truth must be combined with love (see on verse 3), so in the sphere of emotion love must be combined with obedience. Warm feelings, whether towards God or towards man, are worse than valueless if they are not united, on the one hand with obedience, on the other with truth. This was the elect lady's danger; in the exuberance of her chanty she was forgetting her obligations to the truth and the commandment.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

this
αὕτη (hautē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

is
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

love,
ἀγάπη (agapē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.

that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

we walk
περιπατῶμεν (peripatōmen)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 4043: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.

according to
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

commandments.
ἐντολὰς (entolas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1785: An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.

This
αὕτη (hautē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

very
καθὼς (kathōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2531: According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.

commandment
ἐντολή (entolē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1785: An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.

you have heard
ἠκούσατε (ēkousate)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

from
ἀπ’ (ap’)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

[the] beginning,
ἀρχῆς (archēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 746: From archomai; a commencement, or chief.

that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

you must walk
περιπατῆτε (peripatēte)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4043: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[love].
αὐτῇ (autē)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Letters: 2 John 1:6 This is love that we should walk (2J iiJ 2Jn ii jn 2 jo)
2 John 1:5
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