Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 John 1:6
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.
6. And this is love ] Or, And the love is this: the love which I mean consists in this (see on 1Jn 1:5). In 2Jn 1:5 obedience prompts love; here love prompts obedience. This is no vicious logical circle, but a healthy moral connexion, as is stated above on 2Jn 1:4. Love divorced from duty will run riot, and duty divorced from love will starve. See on 1Jn 5:3. The Apostle has no sympathy with a religion of pious emotions: there must be a persevering walk according to God’s commands. In writing to a woman it might be all the more necessary to insist on the fact that love is not a mere matter of feeling.
This is the commandment ] Or, as before, The commandment is this, i.e. consists in this. We had a similar transition from plural to singular, ‘commandments’ to ‘commandment’ in 1Jn 3:22-23.
In these verses (5, 6) S. John seems to be referring to the First Epistle, which she would know.
as ye have heard ] Better, as R. V., even as ye heard, referring to the time when they were first instructed in Christian Ethics. See on ‘received’ in 2Jn 1:4. R. V. is also more accurate in placing ‘that’ after, instead of before, ‘even as ye heard’. But A. V. is not wrong, for ‘even as ye heard’ belongs to the apodosis, not to the protasis: still, this is interpretation rather than translation.
ye should walk in it ] In brotherly love; not, in the commandment, as the Vulgate implies. S. John speaks of walking in ( ) truth, in light, in darkness; but of walking according to ( ) the commandments. S. Paul speaks both of walking in love (Eph 5:2) and according to love (Rom 14:15). Neither speaks of walking in commandments: and in Luk 1:6 a different verb is used. Moreover the context here is in favour of ‘in it’ meaning in love.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments – This is the proper expression or evidence of love to God. See the notes at Joh 14:15, Joh 14:21.
This is the commandment – That is, this is his great and special commandment; the one by which his disciples are to be especially characterized, and by which they are to be distinguished in the world. See the notes at Joh 13:34.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Jn 1:6
This is love, that we walk after His commandments.
Love, the principle of obedience
I. Love as the principle of obedience.
1. The excellency of this principle. It renders obedience.
(1) Divinely acceptable.
(2) Delightful to ourselves. What are the most pleasing actions you ever performed? was a question once addressed to a man, and who answered, The services I have performed for those whom I love.
(3) Perpetual. Christs people are not detained in His service against their will; they are volunteers, made willing in the day of His power.
(4) Impartial.
(a) In avoiding all sins.
(b) In performing all duties.
2. How is this love produced and maintained? Power may cause a man to be feared; authority, to be reverenced; wealth, to be envied; learning, to be admired; genius, to be praised; but it is only goodness that chains one heart to another. And this is the grand and only expedient that God has devised and revealed to bring back the minds of His alienated creatures to Himself. Keep yourselves in the love of God.
II. Obedience as the fruit of love.
1. It is practical, consisting in nothing less than walking. In Scripture you will observe, that walking never refers to a single action, but always to our conduct at large. Everything else, however valuable in connection with this, will be found vain without it. Even endowments and exertion will not be substitutes for obedience.
2. It is prescribed. Walking shows that religion is not a speculation, a notion, a pretence, for we are not merely to walk, but we are to walk after His commandments–not after the course of this world–not according to the lusts of men–not according to the imagination of our hearts, but to walk after His commandments. (W. Jay.)
Love the great commanding commandment
Love is in the heart, the great commanding commandment, that commands all other duties whatsoever. It is the first wheel that turns the whole soul about. (R. Sibbes.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 6. And this is love] That is, our love is shown and proved by our walking according to the commandments of God; for love is the principle of obedience.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
From this particular command he passes to what is more general, requiring in all things a strict and unanimous adherence to the pure and primitive doctrine of the gospel, which would be the best expression of love to God, and the true centre and bond of love to one another, as 1Jo 5:1,3.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Loveis the fulfilling of the law (Rom13:10),and the fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love.
Thisis the commandment Greek,The commandment is this, namely, love,in which all Gods other commandments are summed up.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments,…. By observing them as a rule of conversation, in so doing love is shown to God; and such may expect the fresh discoveries of the love of God to, them; [See comments on 1Jo 5:3];
this is the commandment, that as ye have heard from the beginning,
ye should walk in it; that is, this is the will of God, that his people should walk in the truth of the Gospel, and abide by it, as they heard and received it at their first conversion, from the mouths of the apostles, or other faithful ministers of the word; a reason for which, is given in 2Jo 1:7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Love ( ). The love just mentioned.
That we should walk ( ). Object clause in nominative case in apposition with , with and the present active subjunctive of , “that we keep on walking.”
The commandment ( ). The one just mentioned with the same construction with as in 1Jo 3:23. John changes from the first person plural to the second ( as in 1Jo 2:7, ) as in 1John 2:5; 1John 2:7.
In it ( ). Either to (truth) of verse 4, of this verse, or of this verse. Either makes good sense, probably “in love.” With (walk) we have often (1John 1:7; 1John 1:11, etc.) or (according to) as in Mark 7:5; 1Cor 3:3; 2Cor 10:2, etc.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Love [ ] . The love just mentioned in the verb we love. That [] . See on Joh 14:13.
After His commandments [ ] . For walk, with kata after, according to, see Mr 7:5; Rom 8:4; Rom 14:15; 1Co 3:3; 2Co 10:2. Very often with ejn in. See Joh 8:12; Joh 11:9, 10; 2Co 4:2; 1Jo 1:7, 11. Both constructions are found 2Co 10:2, 3.
From the beginning [ ] . See on Joh 1:1.
In it [ ] . In love : not the commandment.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And this is love, that we walk after his Commandments.” Love from God, a fruit of the Spirit, the third of the Spiritual gifts, is given us “that” (Greek hina, introducing the purpose clause) meaning “in order that” we should deport ourselves in keeping His commandments – read Joh 14:15; Joh 14:21; 1Co 13:13.
2) “This is the commandment, that as ye have heard from the beginning”. Our Lord’s instruction, from the beginning of His ministry was, “follow me,” not Moses, etc. Mat 4:19; Luk 9:23; Mat 20:25-28.
3) “Ye should walk in it”. The walk of the Christian should be in love for God, His Son, the lost, and one another. This was the very spirit of instruction of our Lord’s ministry from the Sermon on the Mount to Calvary. For a walk of love, truth, and fellowship among His own, He prayed in His last Gethsemane prayer. Joh 17:15-26. To walk in love daily, as Jesus walked, is to hold, hold forth, and uphold the body of truth and trust that Jesus gave to His church, 1Ti 3:15. It is the same truth and love John commends to the elect lady – the church -and her children.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
6. This love It is not a mere emotion palpitating in the breast. If genuine the love will be alive. It will shape itself into an outward walk, a walk coinciding with the divine law, or commandment; namely, Christ’s “golden rule” of love.
In it In love.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Jn 1:6. And this is love, That is, “the love which God the Father, by Christ his eternal Son, has enjoined upon Christians one towards another,” as appears from the connection. The exhortations to mutual love among Christians, and the use of that phrase from the beginning, are so common in St. John’s first epistle, that we need not refer to particular places. However, the parity between this and the first epistle appears remarkably in these instances.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
6 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.
Ver. 6. As ye have heard ] He studiously declines the suspicion of novelty. . See Trapp on “ 1Jn 2:7 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
6 .] And (“ eine eigenthumliche Kreisbewegung der Gedanken, wie Johannes sie liebt .” Dsterd.) this is the love ( here is subject, not predicate: the love (intended by this command) is this , i. e. may be thus described), that (the explicative of St. John) we walk according to His commandments. The commandment (the one commandment in which God’s other commandments are summed up) is this, even as ye heard from the beginning that ye should walk in it (the apodosis to begins with : = “is this, even that which ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it,” viz. in .
, as above, 2Jn 1:5 , and 1Jn 2:7 ).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
2Jn 1:6 . , “the love just referred to”. . . ., regulating our lives by their requirements; . (2Jn 1:4 ), keeping within the limits of the Christian revelation and not straying beyond them not (2Jn 1:9 ). , i.e. , “love,” not “the commandment” (Vulg.: Hoc est mandatum, ut in eo ambuletis ). is synonymous with , since Love is Truth in practice. Cf. the story of R. Hillel: A mocking Gentile promised to become a proselyte if he would teach him the whole Law while he stood on one foot a gibe at the multitudinous precepts, reckoned at 613. “What is hateful to thyself,” said the Rabbi, “do not to thy neighbour. This is the whole Law; the rest is commentary.” Yalk. Chad. , lix. 2; “qui justum cibat frusto, perinde est acsi totum Pentateuchum servasset”.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
have. Omit. In this verse is the Figure of speech Antimetabole, “walk . . . commandments commandment . . . walk”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
6.] And (eine eigenthumliche Kreisbewegung der Gedanken, wie Johannes sie liebt. Dsterd.) this is the love ( here is subject, not predicate: the love (intended by this command) is this, i. e. may be thus described), that (the explicative of St. John) we walk according to His commandments. The commandment (the one commandment in which Gods other commandments are summed up) is this, even as ye heard from the beginning that ye should walk in it (the apodosis to begins with : = is this, even that which ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it, viz. in .
, as above, 2Jn 1:5, and 1Jn 2:7).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Jn 1:6. , of Him) the Father, 2Jn 1:4.- , in it) in love. This verse contains a very pleasing Epanodos.[5]-, ye walk) He had just before said, that we walk. Now the second person answers to the verb, ye have heard; that is, from us the apostles.
[5] Repetition of the same words in inverse order. See Append.-E.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
this is love: Joh 14:15, Joh 14:21, Joh 15:10, Joh 15:14, Rom 13:8, Rom 13:9, Gal 5:13, Gal 5:14, 1Jo 5:3, 1Jo 5:15
This is the: 2Jo 1:5, 1Jo 2:24
Reciprocal: Exo 20:6 – love me Num 9:18 – and at the Eze 36:27 – cause Heb 13:1 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Jn 1:6. Love, like faith, is to be shown by works, hence this verse says that to walk after the commandments is love; to walk means to keep moving onward.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Jn 1:6. Here we have once more St. Johns familiar tribute to the ethical supremacy of love, the new revelation of which by Christ in the beginning sways his thoughts with a peculiar power. The verse is remarkable for its circular argument: love is the walking in all the commandments, the strength to keep them all being in love, and love being their compendium; again, the one commandment heard from the beginning is that ye should walk in it, that is, in love.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
As if our apostle had said, “By this we shall make it evidently appear that there is the true love of God in us, if we endeavour to frame our lives according to his commandments;” and this, he assures them, was the great commandment, which they heard from the beginning, when the gospel was preached unto them, namely, that they should believe in Christ, and love one another, and constantly persevere in the practice of these duties.
Learn hence, That obedience is the natural effect and necessary product of love, so is it the best evidence, the surest mark and sign of it. This is the love of God; that is, the surest evidence that we love him, if we keep his commandments.
Learn, 2. That it is not sufficient that we profess love to God and our neighbour, but we must walk in love, and be found in the exercise, yea, in the persevering exercise, of that grace and duty: This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
2Jn 1:6-7. And this is love The principal proof of true love, first to God, and then to his people; that we walk after his commandments That we be obedient to his will in all things. This love is the great commandment, which ye have heard from the beginning Of our preaching; that ye should walk in it Should persevere in love. For many deceivers, &c. See on 1Jn 4:1 : as if he had said, Carefully keep what you have heard from the beginning; for many seducers are come; who confess not that Jesus Christ is come Or came, as (considered as the participle of the imperfect) may be rendered; for Jesus Christ was not on earth in the flesh when John wrote this; as the translation in our Bible, is come, imports. He had come in the flesh, but was gone. So that no translation of this clause, which represents Jesus Christ as then present, can be just. The apostle alludes to the rise of those heretics, who affirmed that Christ came only in appearance; and who, of course, denied his priestly, if not also his prophetic and kingly office. This Every one who does this, who does not acknowledge that Christ came in the flesh; is a deceiver A seducer from God; and antichrist An enemy to Christ.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
If anyone had a question about what loving one another meant, John explained that it is essentially obeying God (cf. 1Jn 5:2-3 a). That is, we love each other best when we obey God’s will that His Word reveals.
"Love strives to realise [sic] in detail every separate expression of the will of God." [Note: Westcott, p. 228.]
The antecedent of the last word in this verse is not clear in the English text or the Greek text. "It" could refer to "love" or "commandment." The latter alternative seems somewhat more likely in view of John’s argument. In this case John’s point was that his readers should obey God’s commands as they had heard these from the beginning of the apostles’ preaching (cf. 1Jn 1:1). They should not obey the gospel that the false teachers were proclaiming.
All the specific "commandments" of God are really one "commandment" or obligation for the Christian (cf. 1Jn 3:22-23).