SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 John 2000 – Page 2

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:5

dear lady: (Translation) In your translation the appropriate term should be used here. John is a respected elder addressing a respected lady. See note on 1b.

not…a new commandment: (Focus) John is referring to a command from God, not from himself. As in 1 John 2:7, he is saying that when Christians are living as God wants them to live they must be always loving one another. He reminds his readers that this command is not new, because Jesus had given it to his disciples many years before (John 13:34).

from the beginning: (Meaning) As in 1 John 2:7, this refers to the time when they first became Christians.

that we love one another: (Focus) This is John’s main point in this verse. To make the emphasis clear you may need to put it at the beginning of the verse, as in Good News Translation, or make it an independent sentence as in New International Version (2011 Revision).

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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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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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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 John 1:5

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

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