Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.
Parallel translations
- WEB for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
- KJV For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
- NKJV for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
- NASB for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
- NLT Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whoever welcomes such a false teacher shares in his evil deeds. Lending support to those who attack the gospel makes one complicit in their harm.
Overview
John explains the previous command: offering hospitality and encouragement to a teacher who denies Christ is not neutral but a partnership in his destructive work. The believer's love must be discerning, refusing to advance what undermines the truth of Christ. This sober warning reflects how seriously Scripture regards the protection of the gospel and the spiritual safety of the flock.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Tim 5:22Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
- Eph 5:11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
- Ps 50:18When you see a thief, you befriend him, and throw in your lot with adulterers.
- Rev 18:4Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.
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To walk in truth and love is to abide in 'the teaching of Christ'; whoever has the Son has both the Father and life.
How 2 John 1:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.