I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.
Parallel translations
- WEB I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
- KJV I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
- BSB I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
- NASB I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received a commandment to do from the Father.
- NLT How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.
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
John rejoices to have found some of the lady's children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded. Faithful obedience to the gospel brings real joy to those who shepherd God's people.
Overview
John's joy is pastoral, delighting that members of this community are living out the truth they profess. "Walking in truth" means a life of ongoing obedience and faithfulness, not merely correct belief. The phrase "some of your children" may simply reflect those John has personally encountered rather than implying others had fallen away, and it sets up his coming appeal to love and to guard against error.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 3 Jn 1:3–4For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
- Eph 5:8For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- 1 Jn 2:6he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.
- Eph 5:2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
- Hos 14:9Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
- 1 Jn 1:6–7If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth.
- Mal 2:6The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.
- 1 Th 3:6–10But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;
- Gal 2:14But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
- Phil 4:10But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.
- 1 Th 2:19–20For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
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 1:4 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.