2 John 1 · Verse 9

2 John 1:9

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

2 John 1:9, King James Version

2 John 1:9 in other translations

BSB	Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.
WEB	Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
ASV	Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
YLT	every one who is transgressing, and is not remaining in the teaching of the Christ, hath not God; he who is remaining in the teaching of the Christ, this one hath both the Father and the Son;
DARBY	Whosoever goes forward and abides not in the doctrine of the Christ has not God. He that abides in the doctrine, he has both the Father and the Son.
BBE	Anyone who goes on and does not keep to the teaching of Christ, has not God: he who keeps to the teaching has the Father and the Son.
Webster	Whoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

What does 2 John 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. The loss (2Jo 8) meant is here explained: the not having God, which results from abiding not in the doctrine of Christ. transgresseth--The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "Every one who takes the lead"; literally, "goes," or "leads on before"; compare Joh 10:4, "He goeth before them" (not the same Greek). Compare 3Jo 9, "Loveth to have the pre-eminence." hath not God--(1Jo 2:23; 5:15). The second "of Christ" is omitted in the oldest manuscripts, but is understood in the sense. He--emphatical: He and He alone. 10. If there come any--as a teacher or brother. The Greek is indicative, not subjunctive; implying that such persons do actually come, and are sure to come; when any comes, as there will. True love is combined with hearty renunciation and separation from all that is false, whether persons or doctrines. receive him not ... neither bid him God speed--This is not said of those who were always aliens from the Church, but of those who wish to be esteemed brethren, and subvert the true doctrine [Grotius]. The greeting salutation forbidden in the case of such a one is that usual among Christian brethren in those days, not a mere formality, but a token of Christian brotherhood.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. In the doctrine which Christ taught, or the true doctrine respecting him. The language is somewhat ambiguous, like the phrase "the love of Christ," which may mean either his love to us, or our love to him. Comp. Jn 15:9. It is difficult to determine here which is the true sense--whether it means the doctrine or precepts which he taught, or the true doctrine respecting him. Macknight understands by it the doctrine taught by Christ and his apostles. It would seem most probable that this is the sense of the passage, but then it would include, of course, all that Christ taught respecting himself, as well as his other instructions. The essential idea is, that the truth must be held respecting the precepts, the character, and the work of the Saviour. Probably the immediate allusion here is to those to whom John so frequently referred as "antichrist," who denied that Jesus had come in the flesh, 2Jn 1:7. At the same time, however, he makes the remark general, that if any one did not hold the true doctrine respecting the Saviour, he had no real knowledge of God. See Jn 1:18, 5:23, 15:23, 17:3 1Jn 2:23.

Hath not God. Has no true knowledge of God. The truth taught here is, that it is essential to piety to hold the true doctrine respecting Christ.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ. In the true doctrine respecting Christ, or in the doctrine which he taught.

He hath both the Father and the Son. There is such an intimate union between the Father and the Son, that he who has just views of the one has also of the other. Comp. Jn 14:7, Jn 4:9; Jn 14:10, Jn 14:11, and 1Jn 2:23.

(f) "in the doctrine" Jn 15:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 Whosoever transgresseth - Παραβαινων· He who passes over the sacred enclosure, or goes beyond the prescribed limits; and abideth not in the doctrine - does not remain within these holy limits, but indulges himself either in excesses of action or passion; hath not God for his Father, nor the love of God in his heart. Hath both the father and the Son - He who abideth in the doctrine of Christ, his body is a temple of the Holy Trinity, and he has communion with the Father as his Father, and with the Son as his Savior and Redeemer.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 John 1:7-11

The deceiver and his deceit are described: he brings some error concerning the person or office of the Lord Jesus. Such a one is a deceiver and an antichrist; he deludes souls, and undermines the glory and kingdom of the Lord Christ. Let us not think it strange, that there are deceivers and opposers of the Lord Christ's name and dignity now, for there were such, even in the apostles' times. The more deceivers and…

Read the full comment on 2 John 1:7-11 →

2 John 1:9 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.

πᾶςpasAnyoneG3956

ὁhowhoG3588

προάγωνproagōnis progressingG4254

καὶkaiandG2532

μὴmēnotG3361

μένωνmenōnabidingG3306

ἐνeninG1722

τῇtēatheG3588

διδαχῇdidachēateachingG1322

τοῦtou<the>G3588

ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547

θεὸνtheonGodG2316

οὐκouknotG3756

ἔχει·echeihas;G2192

ὁhoThe [one]G3588

μένωνmenōnabidingG3306

ἐνeninG1722

τῇtēatheG3588

διδαχῇdidachēateachingG1322

τοῦtouof theG3588

Χριστοῦ,ChristouChristG5547

οὗτοςhoutosthis [one]G3778

καὶkaibothG2532

τὸνtontheG3588

πατέραpateraFatherG3962

καὶkaiandG2532

τὸνtontheG3588

υἱὸνhuionSonG5207

ἔχει.echeihas.G2192

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

Cross references for 2 John 1:9

John 7:16-17
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
1 John 2:22-24
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
John 15:6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
1 John 1:3
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
John 5:23
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Luke 10:22
All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 3:14
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Titus 2:10
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

abideth not.
Joh 15:6; 1Jo 2:22-24
the doctrine.
Joh 7:16,17; Ac 2:42; Col 3:16; Tit 2:10; Heb 6:1
hath not.
Mt 11:27; Lu 10:22; Joh 5:23; 14:6
He that.
Heb 3:14
he hath.
1Jo 1:3

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

Context

2 John 1:8
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2 John 1:9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

Read all of 2 John 1

2 John 1:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Cualquiera que se rebela, y no persevera en la doctrina de Cristo, no tiene á Dios: el que persevera en la doctrina de Cristo, el tal tiene al Padre y al Hijo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Quiconque vous mène en avant et ne demeure pas dans la doctrine du Christ, n’a pas Dieu. Celui qui demeure dans la doctrine, celui-là a le Père et le Fils.
German Elberfelder 1871	Jeder, der weitergeht und nicht bleibt in der Lehre des Christus, hat Gott nicht; wer in der Lehre bleibt, dieser hat sowohl den Vater als auch den Sohn.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Omnis qui recedit, et non permanet in doctrina Christi, Deum non habet: qui permanet in doctrina, hic et Patrem et Filium habet.