SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:6

this is love: (Lexical Problem) In some languages it may not be possible to talk about love without indicating the object of the love. If that is the case in your language you may have to refer to “the true way for someone to love God.” This is different from the translation of the same phrase in 1 John 4:10, because John’s focus is different in this passage.

this: (Pronoun Reference) The word this refers forward to the idea of obeying God’s commands. John is saying that obeying God’s commands is the real sign of our love for God.

we walk according to: (Metaphor) This is a similar metaphor to “walking in the truth” in verse 4. The phrase “we walk according to” means that in our daily lives we obey his commands.

His commandments: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to God’s commands. It may need to be made explicit in your translation. See Good News Translation, New English Bible.

walk in love: (Metaphor) This is a similar metaphor to “walk in obedience.” It means that it should be obvious in our lives that we love one another.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:7

Paragraph 7–11

Read 7–11 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: In these verses John explains the problem which caused him to write this letter. There are false teachers traveling around. If the church welcomes them, they will lead the church into sin. So John shows his readers how to recognize them from their teaching and he warns his readers to have nothing to do with such people.

For: (Logical Relationship) Although many English versions do not translate the Greek connecting word here, it may be good in your translation to follow the example of the Berean Standard Bible and translate it in order to show that John is now going to explain why he said what he said in verses 4–6.

deceivers: (Meaning) This term means people who claimed to be giving Christian teaching, but in fact they were deceiving those who they taught, because their teaching was not true Christianity.

have gone out into the world: (Multiple Senses) As in 1 John 4:1, this phrase is not being used in the sense of leaving a specific place; rather it refers to many people going to different places.

refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh: (Meaning) This is referring to the same false teaching as 1 John 4:2. See the notes on that verse. These people denied that Jesus Christ became a real human being when he came into the world.

the deceiver and the antichrist: (Meaning) This is not referring to two separate people. It means “the antichrist, who is the main person who deceives people.”

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:8

8a-b

Watch yourselves, so that you do not…: (Logical Connection) John is telling his readers to watch out for these people so that they are not deceived by them. He warns the readers that if they are deceived they may not get the rewards which God wants to give them.

(Good News Translation) then: (Logical Connection) It may be helpful in translation to include a connecting word here to show that this warning is based on what is said in verse 7.

8b-c

(New International Version (2011 Revision)) you…you…you: (Text) Some Greek manuscripts have “we” instead of “you” for some or all of the three verbs the New International Version (2011 Revision) translates here as “lose,” “work for” and “be rewarded.” Different English versions follow different manuscripts, but the best text here is that followed by New International Version (2011 Revision).

(New International Version (2011 Revision)) do not lose what you have worked for: (Meaning) This is a negative way of saying “you may be rewarded fully.” It is referring to the idea that God will reward his people in heaven for their efforts to serve him in this world.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:9

Anyone who runs ahead: (Metaphor) The topic of this metaphor is anyone who is not content with the teaching of Christ and therefore adds his own teaching to it. When someone does this he will begin to ignore the teaching of Christ.

the teaching of Christ: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two ways of interpreting this “of” phrase:

(1) It probably means “the things that Christ taught.”

(2) It may mean “the things we have been taught about Christ.”

have God: (Meaning) As in 1 John 2:23b this refers to a Christian’s close relationship and union with God. Its meaning is similar to the phrase, “in God.” See the note on 1 John 2:5c “in Him.”

the Father and the Son: (Translation) In your translation it may be necessary to expand this phrase to make it clear that it is referring to God the Father and God’s Son.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:10

10a

(Good News Translation) then: (Logical Relationship) It may be helpful in translation to have a connecting word at the beginning of verse 10. This could help to show that the instructions in verses 10 and 11 are based on what John has said in verses 7–9.

If anyone comes to you: (Meaning) John is referring to the false teachers who were traveling around from church to church.

to you: (Pronoun Reference) The you here is plural, referring to the lady and her children, or in other words, to all the Christians who John was writing to.

10b

this teaching: (Pronoun Reference) The phrase this teaching refers back to Christ’s teachings as mentioned in verse 9.

10c

do not receive him into your home: (Meaning) John means that the Christians should not entertain these false teachers as guests in their homes or invite them to stay with them.

10d

or even greet him: (Meaning) This probably refers to greeting such a person as a fellow Christian.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:11

11a

(Good News Translation) For: (Logical Relationship) The connecting word shows that this verse gives the reason for the instruction not to welcome the false teachers.

11b

shares in: (Meaning) This indicates that a person who welcomes a false teacher is helping him, and so he is becoming a partner with the false teacher in his evil deeds.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:1

Section 1–3

Greetings

Read 1–3 carefully in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Section Theme: This is the introduction to the letter. In verse 1 the writer says who he is and who he is writing to. In verse 3 he gives a greeting in the form of a blessing. These three elements were the formal parts of the introduction to most Greek letters written at that time. In these verses John also introduces the ideas of love and God’s truth, which are the main things he wants to remind his readers of in this letter.

1a–b

The elder, To: (Discourse Feature) This is the typical form of a Greek letter of John’s time. However in many languages the writer of a letter introduces himself in the first person singular. For example, “I, the elder, am writing to….” In translation the natural form for starting a letter should be used.

elder: (Meaning) Although John was an old man when he wrote this letter, he is probably using the term elder here with the meaning “church leader” or “senior Christian,” as in Acts 14:23 and Titus 1:5-6.

chosen: (Passive Construction) It may be necessary to make explicit that it is God who has chosen the “lady” to be among his people.

lady and her children: (Discourse Feature) John is using these terms to refer to a local church and its members. However, this is not a Greek figure of speech. John here uses these terms as a kind of secret code, probably to avoid mentioning names and putting Christians in danger of persecution. Therefore these terms should be kept in your translation and not changed to “church” and “Christians,” since that would be hiding the fact that John was writing in code here.

whom I love: (Pronoun Reference) John means that he loves both the lady and her children.

in the truth: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two different interpretations of what the Greek phrase means here:

(1) It probably means “truly/really.” (Good News Translation, New English Bible, Living Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It may mean “because we all believe in God’s truth.”

1d–e

not I alone, but also: (Ellipsis) This is a short way of saying “I am not the only one who truly loves you. All who know the truth also love you truly.”

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:12

Section 12–13

Final comments

Read 12–13 carefully in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Section Theme: These verses contain John’s final comments and greetings to close the letter.

12b

I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink: (Meaning) John is not saying that there is anything wrong with using paper and ink. This is merely another way of saying that he would prefer to talk with them face to face.

paper and ink: (Translation) This is an idiom meaning “in a letter.” In your translation you should consider what is the natural way of saying this in your language.

12d

face to face: (Translation) This is also an idiom. It should be translated by a natural phrase for having a friendly personal talk with someone.

12e

complete: (Meaning) As in 1 John 1:4, this means “as great as it can be,” “without any sadness or anything to spoil it.”

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:6

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:7

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:8

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:9

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:10

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:11

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:1

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:12

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