2 John 1:11
in 2 John 1Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.
KJV
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
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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)
For he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds - Shows that he countenances and approves of the doctrine which is taught. Compare the notes at 1Ti 5:22.
This site's exposition
do not receive him into your home
on 2 John 1:10-11
Travelling teachers lived on the hospitality of the churches, and the greeting was a blessing on their mission. Of one who does not bring this teaching, the elder writes, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.
This site's exposition
shares in his evil deeds
A greeting was a blessing on a man's work. The verb koinōnei means to share or hold fellowship, so the one who blesses a false teacher shares in his evil deeds. The command reaches the welcome and the greeting of verse 10 and no further.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor greet him. For he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. "If anyone comes to you" (2 Jn. 10) confirms those to whom he writes. …
But as many as separate from the Church, and give heed to such old wives' fables as these, are truly self-condemned; and these men Paul commands us, "after a first and second admonition, to avoid." And John, the disciple of the Lord, has intensified their condemnation, when he desires us not even to address to them the salutation of "good-speed;" for, says he, "He that bids them be of good-speed is a partaker with their evil deeds;" and that with reason, "for there is no good-speed to the ungodly," saith the Lord.
It is obvious that those who make friends of people who speak falsely aboutout God and who even eat with them do not love the Lord who made them and who feeds them. Instead of being content with that food they are led away into blasphemy against the one who feeds them.
Anyone who dwells in the doctrine of the gospel and who acts according to its teaching will separate himself from those who think and act differently.
The Medieval Church1 voice
The apostle warns those to whom he writes the epistle that they should not only not receive under their roof anyone who comes to them without confessing the teaching of Christ, but should not even greet him, because a greeting from us should be given …
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For he that biddeth him God speed,.... Wishes him well, and success in his ministry, or in a friendly and familiar way converses with him: is partaker of his evil deeds; he has fellowship with him, instead of reproving or shunning him, as he ought; he is an abettor of him in his principles, and so far joins in the propagation of them, and helps to spread them, and gives too much reason to think he is one with him in them.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
By wishing a false brother or teacher "God (or 'good') speed," you imply that he is capable as such of good speed and joy (the literal meaning of the Greek), and that you wish him it while opposing Christ; so you identify yourself with "his evil deeds." The Greek of "partaker" is "having communion with." We cannot have communion with saints and with Antichrist at the same time.
Is partaker of his evil deeds - He that acts towards him as if he considered him a Christian brother, and sound in the faith, puts it in his power to deceive others, by thus apparently accrediting his ministry. No sound Christian should countenance any man as a Gospel minister, who holds and preaches erroneous doctrines; especially concerning the Lord Jesus. Nor can any Christian attend the ministry of such teachers without being criminal in the sight of God. He who attends their ministry is, in effect, bidding them God speed; no matter whether such belong to an established Church, or to any congregation of dissenters from it. But what St. John says here does not mean that we should deny such the common offices of humanity, charity, and mercy. No. In these offices we are equally bound to all men; far less does it intimate that we should persecute such on account of their heretical or heterodox sentiments. No. This right has God given to no man, to no Church, to no state. They who persecute others, even for the worst heretical opinions, may expect the heaviest judgments of Almighty God. There is a remarkable addition here in several MSS. Of the Vulgate, and in some printed editions. Ecce praedixi vobis, ut in diem Domini nostri Jesu Christi non confundamini. “Behold, I have foretold this to you, that ye may not be confounded in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This addition is found in the edition of Pope Sixtus the Fifth, and in the Complutensian Polyglot; but it is not acknowledged by any of the versions, nor by any Greek MSS.
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λέγων | legon | telling | G3004 → | |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | |
| αὐτῷ | auto | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| χαίρειν, | chairein | to rejoice | G5463 → | 74 times |
| κοινωνεῖ | koinonei | partakes | G2841 → | |
| τοῖς | tois | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔργοις | ergois | works | G2041 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τοῖς | tois | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πονηροῖς.¶ | ponerois | evil. | G4190 → |
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
λέγωνtelling
legonG3004 →
γὰρfor
garG1063 →
αὐτῷhim
autoG846 →5565 times
χαίρειν,to rejoice
chaireinG5463 →74 times
κοινωνεῖpartakes
koinoneiG2841 →
τοῖςin the
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἔργοιςworks
ergoisG2041 →
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
τοῖς<the>
toisG3588 →19766 times
πονηροῖς.¶evil.
poneroisG4190 →
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
Ephesians 5:11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
it leads to
- Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- 1 Timothy 5:20
But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received…
- 2 John 1:10–11
If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
- Romans 13:12
Through
Revelation 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.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
- Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
- Jeremiah 51:6
Flee from Babylon! Escape with your lives! Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; He will pay her what she deserves.
- Jeremiah 51:45
Come out of her, My people! Save your lives, each of you, from the fierce anger of the LORD.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 John
This page draws on 10 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); Basil of Caesarea, CATENA; Didymus the Blind, COMMENTARY ON 2 JOHN; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book 1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 John and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 John.