The Meaning of 2 John 1:2 Explained

2 John 1:2

KJV: For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

YLT: because of the truth that is remaining in us, and with us shall be to the age,

Darby: for the truth's sake which abides in us and shall be with us to eternity.

ASV: for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  the truth's sake,  which  dwelleth  in  us,  and  shall be  with  us  for  ever. 

What does 2 John 1:2 Mean?

Context Summary

2 John 1:1-13 - Walking In Truth
This exquisite letter, a model of old-world correspondence, was probably written when the Apostle was the guest of the nephews of the lady addressed. The Epistle revolves around the two words, love and truth, which were the poles of his life. When Christ is in us, not only are we true in judgment and speech, but we recognize truth wherever it is to be found. No horizon bounds the vision of the true and truth-loving soul. Be true and loving, and you will have a rich heritage of grace, mercy, and peace. Love is best shown by obedience. 2 John 1:8 shows a pastor's anxiety. Don't go on without Christ or you will lose God, 2 John 1:9. Remember that love can be stern, 2 John 1:10.
The letter reveals the strength, purity, and love of the primitive Church. Let us put into our letters thoughts which will make them worth receiving and keeping. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for 2 John 1:2

For the truth‘s sake [δια την αλητειαν]
Repetition of the word, one of which John is very fond (1 John 1:6, “the truth, as revealed by the Christ, and gradually unfolded by the Spirit, who is truth” (Brooke). [source]
Which abideth in us [την μενουσαν εν ημιν]
See John 17:19 for “sanctified in truth” and 1 John 2:6 for abiding in Christ, and so it includes all who are in Christ.It shall be with us (μετ ημων εσται — meth' hēmōn estai). Confident assertion, not a mere wish. Note the order of the words, “With us it shall be” (εσται — estai future middle of ειμι — eimi). [source]
It shall be with us [μετ ημων εσται]
Confident assertion, not a mere wish. Note the order of the words, “With us it shall be” (εσται — estai future middle of ειμι — eimi). [source]
Which dwelleth [τὴν μένουσαν]
Rev., abideth. Enlarging on the idea of the truth: that which abideth. See on 1 John 4:9, on the phrase to abide in, see on 1 John 2:6. [source]
Shall be with us [μεθ ' ἡμῶν ἔσται]
With us has the emphatic position in the sentence: and with us it shall be. Note the change from abideth in to shall be with, and see on John 14:16, John 14:17. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 John 1:2

1 Peter 1:2 The foreknowledge [προγνωσιν]
Late substantive (Plutarch, Lucian, papyri) from προγινωσκω — proginōskō (1 Peter 1:20), to know beforehand, only twice in N.T. (here and Acts 2:23 in Peter‘s sermon). In this Epistle Peter often uses substantives rather than verbs (cf. Romans 8:29).Of God the Father (τεου πατρος — theou patros). Anarthous again and genitive case. See πατηρ — patēr applied to God also in 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:17 as often by Paul (Romans 1:7, etc.). Peter here presents the Trinity (God the Father, the Spirit, Jesus Christ).In sanctification of the Spirit Clearly the Holy Spirit, though anarthrous like τεου πατρος — theou patros Late word from αγιαζω — hagiazō to render holy Obedience (from υπακουω — hupakouō to hear under, to hearken) to the Lord Jesus as in 1 Peter 1:22 “to the truth,” result of “the sanctification.”And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Late substantive from ραντιζω — rantizō to sprinkle (Hebrews 9:13), a word used in the lxx of the sacrifices (Num 19:9, 13, 20, etc.), but not in any non-biblical source so far as known, in N.T. only here and Hebrews 12:24 (of the sprinkling of blood). Reference to the death of Christ on the Cross and to the ratification of the New Covenant by the blood of Christ as given in Hebrews 9:19.; Hebrews 12:24 with allusion to Exodus 24:3-8. Paul does not mention this ritual use of the blood of Christ, but Jesus does (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24). Hence it is not surprising to find the use of it by Peter and the author of Hebrews. Hort suggests that Peter may also have an ulterior reference to the blood of the martyrs as in Revelation 7:14.; Revelation 12:11, but only as illustration of what Jesus did for us, not as having any value. The whole Epistle is a commentary upon προγνωσις τεου αγιασμος πνευματοσ αιμα Χριστου — prognōsis theouπλητυντειη — hagiasmos pneumatosπλητυνω — haima Christou (Bigg). Peter is not ashamed of the blood of Christ.Be multiplied (πλητυς — plēthuntheiē). First aorist passive optative (volitive) of χαρις και ειρηνη — plēthunō old verb (from ελεος — plēthus fulness), in a wish. So in 2 Peter 1:2; Judges 1:2, but nowhere else in N.T. salutations. Grace and peace (ελεος — charis kai eirēnē) occur together in 2 Peter 1:2, in 2 John 1:2 (with eleos), and in all Paul‘s Epistles (with eleos added in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy). [source]
1 Peter 1:2 Be multiplied [πλητυς]
First aorist passive optative (volitive) of χαρις και ειρηνη — plēthunō old verb (from ελεος — plēthus fulness), in a wish. So in 2 Peter 1:2; Judges 1:2, but nowhere else in N.T. salutations. Grace and peace (ελεος — charis kai eirēnē) occur together in 2 Peter 1:2, in 2 John 1:2 (with eleos), and in all Paul‘s Epistles (with eleos added in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy). [source]
1 Peter 1:2 In sanctification of the Spirit [εν αγιασμωι πνευματος]
Clearly the Holy Spirit, though anarthrous like τεου πατρος — theou patros Late word from αγιαζω — hagiazō to render holy Obedience (from υπακουω — hupakouō to hear under, to hearken) to the Lord Jesus as in 1 Peter 1:22 “to the truth,” result of “the sanctification.”And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Late substantive from ραντιζω — rantizō to sprinkle (Hebrews 9:13), a word used in the lxx of the sacrifices (Num 19:9, 13, 20, etc.), but not in any non-biblical source so far as known, in N.T. only here and Hebrews 12:24 (of the sprinkling of blood). Reference to the death of Christ on the Cross and to the ratification of the New Covenant by the blood of Christ as given in Hebrews 9:19.; Hebrews 12:24 with allusion to Exodus 24:3-8. Paul does not mention this ritual use of the blood of Christ, but Jesus does (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24). Hence it is not surprising to find the use of it by Peter and the author of Hebrews. Hort suggests that Peter may also have an ulterior reference to the blood of the martyrs as in Revelation 7:14.; Revelation 12:11, but only as illustration of what Jesus did for us, not as having any value. The whole Epistle is a commentary upon προγνωσις τεου αγιασμος πνευματοσ αιμα Χριστου — prognōsis theouπλητυντειη — hagiasmos pneumatosπλητυνω — haima Christou (Bigg). Peter is not ashamed of the blood of Christ.Be multiplied (πλητυς — plēthuntheiē). First aorist passive optative (volitive) of χαρις και ειρηνη — plēthunō old verb (from ελεος — plēthus fulness), in a wish. So in 2 Peter 1:2; Judges 1:2, but nowhere else in N.T. salutations. Grace and peace (ελεος — charis kai eirēnē) occur together in 2 Peter 1:2, in 2 John 1:2 (with eleos), and in all Paul‘s Epistles (with eleos added in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy). [source]
1 Peter 1:2 And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ [ραντισμον αιματος Ιησου Χριστου]
Late substantive from ραντιζω — rantizō to sprinkle (Hebrews 9:13), a word used in the lxx of the sacrifices (Num 19:9, 13, 20, etc.), but not in any non-biblical source so far as known, in N.T. only here and Hebrews 12:24 (of the sprinkling of blood). Reference to the death of Christ on the Cross and to the ratification of the New Covenant by the blood of Christ as given in Hebrews 9:19.; Hebrews 12:24 with allusion to Exodus 24:3-8. Paul does not mention this ritual use of the blood of Christ, but Jesus does (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24). Hence it is not surprising to find the use of it by Peter and the author of Hebrews. Hort suggests that Peter may also have an ulterior reference to the blood of the martyrs as in Revelation 7:14.; Revelation 12:11, but only as illustration of what Jesus did for us, not as having any value. The whole Epistle is a commentary upon προγνωσις τεου αγιασμος πνευματοσ αιμα Χριστου — prognōsis theouπλητυντειη — hagiasmos pneumatosπλητυνω — haima Christou (Bigg). Peter is not ashamed of the blood of Christ.Be multiplied (πλητυς — plēthuntheiē). First aorist passive optative (volitive) of χαρις και ειρηνη — plēthunō old verb (from ελεος — plēthus fulness), in a wish. So in 2 Peter 1:2; Judges 1:2, but nowhere else in N.T. salutations. Grace and peace (ελεος — charis kai eirēnē) occur together in 2 Peter 1:2, in 2 John 1:2 (with eleos), and in all Paul‘s Epistles (with eleos added in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy). [source]
1 John 1:8 The truth []
The whole Gospel. All reality is in God. He is the only true God ( ἀληθινός John 17:3; see on John 1:9). This reality is incarnated in Christ, the Word of God, “the very image of His substance,” and in His message to men. This message is the truth, a title not found in the Synoptists, Acts, or Revelation, but in the Catholic Epistles (James 5:19; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 2:2), and in Paul (2 Corinthians 8:8; Ephesians 1:13, etc.). It is especially characteristic of the Gospel and Epistles of John. The truth is represented by John objectively and subjectively. 1. Objectively. In the person of Christ. He is the Truth, the perfect revelation of God (John 1:18; John 14:6). His manhood is true to the absolute law of right, which is the law of love, and is, therefore, our perfect pattern of manhood. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Truth, absolutely existing in and identified with God, was also, in some measure, diffused in the world. The Word was in the world, before as after the incarnation (John 1:10. See on John 1:4, John 1:5). Christ often treats the truth as something to which He came to bear witness, and which it was His mission to develop into clearer recognition and expression (John 18:37). This He did through the embodiment of truth in His own person (John 1:14, John 1:17; John 14:6), and by His teaching (John 8:40; John 17:17); and His work is carried out by the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13), sent by God and by Christ himself (John 14:26; John 16:7). Hence the Spirit, even as Christ, is the Truth (1 John 5:6). The whole sum of the knowledge of Christ and of the Spirit, is the Truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1:1). This truth can be recognized, apprehended, and appropriated by man, and can be also rejected by him (John 8:32; 1 John 2:21; John 8:44). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
2. Subjectively. The truth is lodged in man by the Spirit, and communicated to his spirit (John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:13). It dwells in man (1 John 1:8; 1 John 2:4; 2 John 1:2), as revelation, comfort, guidance, enlightenment, conviction, impulse, inspiration, knowledge. It is the spirit of truth as opposed to the spirit of error (1 John 4:6). It translates itself into act. God's true children do the truth (John 3:21; 1 John 1:6). It brings sanctification and freedom (John 8:32; John 17:17). See on John 14:6, John 14:17. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

What do the individual words in 2 John 1:2 mean?

because of the truth - abiding in us and with us that will be to the age
διὰ τὴν ἀλήθειαν τὴν μένουσαν ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ μεθ’ ἡμῶν ἔσται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα

διὰ  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
ἀλήθειαν  truth 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλήθεια  
Sense: objectively.
τὴν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
μένουσαν  abiding 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: μένω  
Sense: to remain, abide.
ἡμῖν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἡμῶν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἔσται  that  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
αἰῶνα  age 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: αἰών  
Sense: for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity.