2 John 1:5

My friends, I have something to tell you. We have to love each other. You already know that. We heard that message from the beginning, right from the time you first heard about Jesus. It’s the message that Jesus told us.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

4A little while ago, I met some people from your church. I found out that they still believe God’s true message, and they are living God’s way, just like he told us to. That made me really happy.

6And this is how you can love each other, you have to listen to God and live his way. You see, God told us to love each other. Yes, you heard that when you first heard the message about Jesus.

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Cross References

John 13:34Listen, you have to love each other, just as much as I loved you. This is a new thing I’m telling you, and you have to do it.

Galatians 5:22But if God’s spirit controls people, he gets them to do good things. You know that a good fruit tree always gets good fruit on it. Well, like that, a person with God’s spirit does good things. If you let God’s spirit lead you, he will get you to love God and to love other people. And you will be happy. And you will feel good and quiet inside yourself so that you will not fight with other people. God’s spirit inside you will help you be good to people and not get angry, even if they give you trouble. And he will get you to be friendly to other people, and he will get you to do good things. He will make you the sort of person that other people can trust.

1 Thessalonians 4:9I don’t need to write to you about how you have to love other Christians. God himself taught you to love each other.

1 Peter 1:22You listened to the true message from God, and you did everything he said in that message. Then God cleaned up your lives and you stopped doing bad things. So now you love each other. Well, keep on loving each other very much.

1 John 3:11Yes, I’m telling you, we Christians have to love each other. You already know that message. You heard it from the beginning, right from the time you first heard about Jesus.

Matthew Henry on 2 John 1:2-5

Salutation. ( a. d. 90.) 1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. Ancient epistles began, as… Read the whole commentary →

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