2 John 1 · Verse 12

2 John 1:12

Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

2 John 1:12, King James Version

2 John 1:12 in other translations

BSB	I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
WEB	Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
ASV	Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
YLT	Many things having to write to you, I did not intend through paper and ink, but I hope to come unto you, and speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full;
DARBY	Having many things to write to you, I would not with paper and ink; but hope to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.
BBE	Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be full.
Webster	Having many things to write to you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

What does 2 John 1:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. I would not write--A heart full of love pours itself out more freely face to face, than by letter. paper--made of Egyptian papyrus. Pens were then reeds split. ink--made of soot and water, thickened with gum. Parchment was used for the permanent manuscripts in which the Epistles were preserved. Writing tablets were used merely for temporary purposes, as our slates. face to face--literally, "mouth to mouth." full--Greek, "filled full." Your joy will be complete in hearing from me in person the joyful Gospel truths which I now defer communicating till I see you. On other occasions his writing the glad truths was for the same purpose.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. Having many things to write unto you. That I would wish to say. This language is such as would be used by one who was hurried, or who was in feeble health, or who hoped soon to see the person written to. In such a case only the points would be selected which were of most immediate and pressing importance, and the remainder would be reserved for a more free personal interview.

I would not write with paper. The word paper here conveys an idea which is not strictly correct. Paper, as that term is now understood, was not invented until long after this period. The material designated by the word used by John (χαρτης) was the Egyptian papyrus, and the particular thing denoted was a leaf made out of that plant. The sheets were made from membranes of the plant closely pressed together. This plant was found also in Syria and Babylon, but it was produced in greater abundance in Egypt, and that was the plant which was commonly used. It was so comparatively cheap, that it in a great measure superseded the earlier materials for writing--plates of lead, or stone, or the skins of animals. It is probable that the books of the New Testament were written on this species of paper. Comp. Hug, Intro. chap. iii., 11.

And ink. The ink which was commonly employed in writing was made of soot and water, with a mixture of some species of gum to give it consistency and durability.--Lucke. The instrument or pen was made of a reed.

But I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face. Marg., as in Greek, mouth to mouth. The phrase is a common one, to denote conversation with any one, especially free and confidential conversation. Comp. Nu 12:8, Jer 32:4.

That our joy may be full. Marg., your. The marginal reading has arisen from a variation in the Greek copies. The word our is best sustained, and accords best with the connexion. John would be likely to express the hope that he would find pleasure from such an interview. 1Jn 1:4. Compare Rom 1:11,12.

(1) "speak face to face" "mouth to mouth" (2) "our" "your" (c) "joy" 1Jn 1:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 Having many things to write - That is, I have many things that I might write to thee, but I think it best not to commit them to paper, because I hope to visit thee shortly, and speak fully of those matters, which will be a means of increasing the comfort both of thee and thy family, as well as my own. There is more comfort in mutual interviews among friends than in epistolaty correspondence,

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 John 1:12-13

The apostle refers many things to a personal meeting. Pen and ink were means of strengthening and comforting others; but to see each other is more so. The communion of saints should be maintained by all methods; and should tend to mutual joy. In communion with them we find much of our present joy, and look forward to happiness for ever.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 John 1:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠολλὰPollaMany thingsG4183

ἔχωνechōnhavingG2192

ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771

γράφεινgrapheinto writeG1125

οὐκouknotG3756

ἐβουλήθηνeboulēthēnI purposedG1014

διὰdiawithG1223

χάρτουchartoupaperG5489

καὶkaiandG2532

μέλανος·melanosink;G3188

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ἐλπίζωelpizōI hopeG1679

γενέσθαιgenesthaito comeG1096

πρὸςprostoG4314

ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771

καὶkaiandG2532

στόμαstomamouthG4750

πρὸςprostoG4314

στόμαstomamouthG4750

λαλῆσαιlalēsaito speakG2980

ἵναinaso thatG2443

ἡhētheG3588

χαρὰcharajoyG5479

ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165

πεπληρωμένηpeplērōmenēcompletedG4137

ᾖ.ēmay be.G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 John 1:12

John 16:12
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
3 John 1:13-14
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
John 15:11
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
1 Corinthians 16:5-7
Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia. And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
Numbers 12:8
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
John 17:13
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Romans 15:24
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
1 John 1:4
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
John 16:24
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
2 Timothy 1:4
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Hebrews 13:19
But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Hebrews 13:23
Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

many.
Joh 16:12
I would.
3Jo 1:13
I trust.
Ro 15:24; 1Co 16:5-7; Phm 1:22; Heb 13:19,23
face to face. Gr. mouth to mouth.
Nu 12:8
that.
Joh 15:11; 16:24; 17:13; 2Ti 1:4; 1Jo 1:4
our. or, your.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 John 1:11
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
2 John 1:12
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
2 John 1:13
The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

Read all of 2 John 1

2 John 1:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Aunque tengo muchas cosas que escribiros, no he querido comunicarlas por medio de papel y tinta; mas espero ir á vosotros, y hablar boca á boca, para que nuestro gozo sea cumplido.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Ayant beaucoup de choses à vous écrire, je n’ai pas voulu le faire avec du papier et de l’encre, mais j’espère aller vers vous et vous parler bouche à bouche, afin que notre joie soit accomplie.
German Elberfelder 1871	Da ich euch vieles zu schreiben habe, wollte ich es nicht mit Papier und Tinte tun, sondern ich hoffe, zu euch zu kommen und mündlich mit euch zu reden, auf daß unsere Freude völlig sei.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Plura habens vobis scribere, nolui per cartam et atramentum: spero enim me futurum apud vos, et os ad os loqui: ut gaudium vestrum plenum sit.