2 John 1 · Verse 4

2 John 1:4

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2 John 1:4, King James Version

2 John 1:4 in other translations

BSBI was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
WEBI rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
ASVI rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
YLTI rejoiced exceedingly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, even as a command we did receive from the Father;
DARBYI rejoiced greatly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment from the Father.
BBEIt gave me great joy to see some of your children walking in the true way, even as we were ordered to do by the Father.
WebsterI rejoiced greatly, that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

What does 2 John 1:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. I found--probably in one of his missionary tours of superintendence. See Introduction, at the end, and 2Jo 12; 3Jo 10, 14. of thy children--some. in truth--that is, in the Gospel truth. as--even as. "The Father's commandment" is the standard of "the truth."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. I rejoiced greatly that I found, etc. That I learned this fact respecting some of thy children. The apostle does not say how he had learned this. It may have been that he had become personally acquainted with them when they were away from their home, or that he had learned it from others. The word used (ευρηκα) would apply to either method. Grotius supposed that some of the sons had come on business to Ephesus, and that John had become acquainted with them there. Of thy children walking in truth. That is, true Christians; living in accordance with the truth, for this constitutes the essence of religion. The expression used here, "of thy children," (εκτωντεκνων,) means some of thy children; implying that he knew of a part of them who were true Christians. This is clear from the Greek construction, because

(a.) if he had meant to say that he had found them all to be of this description, the sentiment would have been directly expressed, "thy children;" but as it is, some word is necessary to be understood to complete the sense; and

(b.) the same thing is demanded by the fact that the participle used (walking--περιπατουντας) is in the accusative case. If he had referred to them all, the participle would have been in the genitive, agreeing with the word children, (τωνπεριπατουντων.)--Lucke. Whether the apostle means to say that only a part of them had in fact embraced the gospel, or that he had only known that a part of them had done it, though the others might have done it without his knowledge, is not quite clear, though the former supposition appears to be the correct one, for if they had all become Christians it is to be presumed that he would have been informed of it. The probability seems to be that a part of her children only were truly pious, though there is no evidence that the others were otherwise than correct in their moral conduct. If there had been improper conduct in any of her other children, John was too courteous, and too delicate in his feelings, to allude to so disagreeable a circumstance. But "if that pious lady," to use the language of Benson, "had some wicked children, her lot was not peculiar. Her consolation was that she had some who were truly good. John commended those who were good, in order to excite them in the most agreeable manner to persevere."

As we have received a commandment from the Father. That is, as he has commanded us to live; in accordance with the truth which he has revealed. The Father, in the Scripture, is everywhere represented as the source of law.

(+) "of thy children" "found some of"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 That I found of thy children walking in truth - I have already supposed this Christian matron to be mother of a family, probably a widow, for no mention is made of her husband; and that she was also a deaconess in the church, and one in those house the traveling evangelists preached, and there they were entertained. The children mentioned here may either be her own children, or those members of the Church which were under her care, or some of both. The apostle was glad to find, probably by an epistle sent from herself to him, or from the information of some of the itinerant evangelists, that the work of God was prospering in the place where she lived, and also in her own household. He does not say that all were walking in the truth, but εκ των τεκνων, some of her children; there was a growing and spreading work, and there were many adversaries who strove to pervert them who had already believed, and perhaps were successful in drawing several away from their simplicity.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 John 1:4-6
It is good to be trained to early religion; and children may be beloved for their parents' sake. It gave great joy to the apostle to see children treading in their parents' steps, and likely in their turn to support the gospel. May God bless such families more and more, and raise up many to copy their example. How pleasing the contrast to numbers who spread irreligion, infidelity, and vice, among their children! Our walk is true, our converse right, when according to the word of God. This commandment of mutual Christian love, may be said to be a new one, in respect of its being declared by the Lord Christ; yet, as to the matter, it is old. And this is love to our own souls, that we obey the Divine commands. The foresight of the decay of this love, as well as of other apostacies, or fallings away, might engage the apostle to urge this duty, and this command, frequently and earnestly.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 John 1:4 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.

ἘχάρηνEcharēnI rejoicedG5463
λίανlianexceedinglyG3029
ὅτιhotithatG3754
εὕρηκαheurēkaI have foundG2147
ἐκek[some] ofG1537
τῶνtōntheG3588
τέκνωνteknōnchildrenG5043
σουsouof youG4771
περιπατοῦνταςperipatountaswalkingG4043
ἐνeninG1722
ἀληθείᾳalētheiatruthG225
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
ἐντολὴνentolēncommandmentG1785
ἐλάβομενelabomenwe receivedG2983
παρὰparafromG3844
τοῦtoutheG3588
πατρός.patrosFather.G3962

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

Cross references for 2 John 1:4

  • 3 John 1:3-4

    For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

  • Ephesians 5:8

    For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

  • 1 John 2:6

    He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

  • Ephesians 5:2

    And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

  • 1 John 1:6-7

    If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

  • Hosea 14:9

    Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

  • Malachi 2:6

    The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10

    But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; …

  • Galatians 2:14

    But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

  • Philippians 4:10

    But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

    For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
rejoiced.
Php 4:10; 1Th 2:19,20; 3:6-10; 3Jo 1:3,4
walking.
Ho 14:9; Mal 2:6; Ga 2:14; Eph 5:2,8; 1Jo 1:6,7; 2:6

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

Context

  • 2 John 1:3

    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.

  • 2 John 1:4

    I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

  • 2 John 1:5

    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.

Read all of 2 John 1

2 John 1:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mucho me he gozado, porque he hallado de tus hijos, que andan en verdad, como nosotros hemos recibido el mandamiento del Padre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je me suis fort réjoui d’avoir trouvé de tes enfants marchant dans la vérité, comme nous en avons reçu le commandement de la part du Père.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich freute mich sehr, daß ich einige von deinen Kindern in der Wahrheit wandelnd gefunden habe, wie wir von dem Vater ein Gebot empfangen haben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Gavisus sum valde, quoniam inveni de filiis tuis ambulantes in veritate, sicut mandatum accepimus a Patre.