2 John 1:9
in 2 John 1Anyone 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 2 John 1
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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. Compare Joh 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.
This site's exposition
many deceivers have gone out into the world
on 2 John 1:7-9
In verse 7, many deceivers have gone out into the world, the secession of 1 John 2:19. They are refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, a present participle. Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God.
This site's exposition
runs ahead
The oldest manuscripts read proagōn, a verb for going on ahead. A teacher who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God, the loss verse 8 warns of. The teaching of Christ may mean what Christ taught or the truth about Him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. The Apostle first removes this objection by saying: Let no one think that by rejecting …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Everyone who goes ahead and does not remain in the teaching, etc. Note the difference in words, and embrace the truth of the faith. He says that whoever does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God, but whoever remains in his …
Someone of this sort might perhaps say: if I do not believe in the coming of Christ in the flesh, but lead a life of good deeds, can I not stand together with the pious on account of these deeds? Can I not receive a …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The danger and evil of departure from gospel light and revelation; it is in effect and reality a departure from God himself: Whosoever transgresseth (transgresseth at this dismal rate), and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. It is the doctrine of Christ that is appointed to guide us to God; it is that whereby God draws souls to salvation and to himself.
Receive this as a certain rule: Whosoever transgresseth - Any law of God. Hath not God - For his Father and his God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ - Believing and obeying it.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:85%@v6-11
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Whosoever transgresseth,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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).
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.
The words behind it
27 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πᾶς | pas | Anyone | G3956 → | |
| ὁ | ho | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προάγων | proagon | is progressing | G4254 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| μένων | menon | abiding | G3306 → | 118 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδαχῇ | didachea | teaching | G1322 → | 30 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | of Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| θεὸν | theon | God | G2316 → | |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔχει· | echei | has; | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ὁ | ho | The [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μένων | menon | abiding | G3306 → | 118 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδαχῇ | didachea | teaching | G1322 → | 30 times |
| οὗτος | houtos | this [one] | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| καὶ | kai | both | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατέρα | patera | Father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| υἱὸν | huion | Son | G5207 → | |
| ἔχει. | echei | has. | G2192 → | 707 times |
πᾶςAnyone
pasG3956 →
ὁwho
hoG3588 →19766 times
προάγωνis progressing
proagonG4254 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
μένωνabiding
menonG3306 →118 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
διδαχῇteaching
didacheaG1322 →30 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦof Christ
christouG5547 →523 times
θεὸνGod
theonG2316 →
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔχει·has;
echeiG2192 →707 times
ὁThe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
μένωνabiding
menonG3306 →118 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
διδαχῇteaching
didacheaG1322 →30 times
οὗτοςthis [one]
houtosG3778 →1381 times
καὶboth
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
πατέραFather
pateraG3962 →410 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
υἱὸνSon
huionG5207 →
ἔχει.has.
echeiG2192 →707 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
it leads to
- Psalms 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
- Psalms 119:11
Through
John 15:6If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
it leads to
- Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Hebrews 6:7–8
For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.
- Matthew 7:19
Through
1 John 1:3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
- 1 Corinthians 1:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 John
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 John and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 John.