2 John 1:12
in 2 John 1I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
KJV
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
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This verse in 2 John 1
Commentary
9 notes on this verseBecause of the incapacity of his hearers, John did not think it right to entrust the solutions of secrets of this kind to paper and ink.
This site's exposition
paper and ink
on 2 John 1:12-13
The elder sets aside paper and ink, chartēs being a papyrus sheet. He hopes to speak face to face, mouth to mouth in the Greek, so that our joy may be complete, as in 1 John 1:4. The children of your elect sister send you greetings.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Since I had many things to write to you, I did not want to do so by paper and ink. But I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete. The children of your sister the …
The Medieval Church1 voice
As the reason why the present epistle and the one following it are composed briefly, the apostle gives the fact that he hopes to come himself and in a personal meeting to supply what is lacking.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The Spirit of Christianity, we may suppose, will not be totally extinguished: Which shall be with us for ever. The salutation, which is indeed an apostolical benediction: Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love,
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:26w-of-53
Having many things to write unto you,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Parchment was used for the permanent manuscripts in which the Epistles were preserved. Writing tablets were used merely for temporary purposes, as our slates. face to face--literally, "mouth to mouth." full--Greek, "filled full." Your joy will be complete in hearing from me in person the joyful Gospel truths which I now defer communicating till I see you.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Having many things to write - That is, I have many things that I might write to thee, but I think it best not to commit them to paper, because I hope to visit thee shortly, and speak fully of those matters, which will be a means of increasing the comfort both of thee and thy family, as well as my own. There is more comfort in mutual interviews among friends than in epistolaty correspondence,
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Having many things to write unto you - That I would wish to say. This language is such as would be used by one who was hurried, or who was in feeble health, or who hoped soon to see the person written to. In such a case only the points would be selected which were of most immediate and pressing importance, and the remainder would be reserved for a more free personal interview. I would not write with paper - The word “paper” here conveys an idea which is not strictly correct. “Paper,” as that term is now understood, was not invented until long after this period. The material designated by the word used by John (χάρτης chartēs) was the Egyptian papyrus, and the particular thing denoted was a leaf made out of that plant. The sheets were made from membranes of the plant closely pressed together. This plant was found also in Syria and Babylon, but it was produced in greater abundance in Egypt, and that was the plant which was commonly used. It was so comparatively cheap, that it in a great measure superseded the earlier materials for writing - plates of lead, or stone, or the skins of animals. It is probable that the books of the New Testament were written on this species of paper. Compare Hug, Introduction, chapter iii., Section 11. And ink - The ink which was commonly employed in writing was made of soot and water, with a mixture of some species of gum to give it consistency and durability - Lucke. The instrument (pen) was made of a reed. But I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face - Margin, as in Greek, “mouth to mouth.” The phrase is a common one, to denote conversation with any one, especially free and confidential conversation. Compare Num 12:8; Jer 32:4. That our joy may be full - Margin, “your.” The marginal reading has arisen from a variation in the Greek copies. The word “our” is best sustained, and accords best with the connection. […]
The words behind it
26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Πολλὰ | polla | Many things | G4183 → | |
| ἔχων | echon | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| γράφειν | graphein | to write | G1125 → | |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐβουλήθην | eboulethen | I purposed | G1014 → | |
| διὰ | dia | with | G1223 → | |
| χάρτου | chartou | paper | G5489 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| μέλανος· | melanos | ink; | G3188 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐλπίζω | elpizo | I hope | G1679 → | |
| γενέσθαι | genesthai | to come | G1096 → | |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| στόμα | stoma | mouth | G4750 → | |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| στόμα | stoma | mouth | G4750 → | |
| λαλῆσαι | lalesai | to speak | G2980 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χαρὰ | chara | joy | G5479 → | |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| πεπληρωμένη | pepleromene | completed | G4137 → | |
| ᾖ. | e | may be. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
ΠολλὰMany things
pollaG4183 →
ἔχωνhaving
echonG2192 →707 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
γράφεινto write
grapheinG1125 →
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐβουλήθηνI purposed
eboulethenG1014 →
διὰwith
diaG1223 →
χάρτουpaper
chartouG5489 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
μέλανος·ink;
melanosG3188 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐλπίζωI hope
elpizoG1679 →
γενέσθαιto come
genesthaiG1096 →
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
στόμαmouth
stomaG4750 →
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
στόμαmouth
stomaG4750 →
λαλῆσαιto speak
lalesaiG2980 →
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
χαρὰjoy
charaG5479 →
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
πεπληρωμένηcompleted
pepleromeneG4137 →
ᾖ.may be.
eG1510 →2333 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
John 15:11I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
it leads to
- John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- John 17:13
But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
- 1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
- 1 John 1:4
We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
- John 16:24
Through
1 John 1:4We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
it leads to
- John 15:11
I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 15:11
Through
John 17:13But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand…
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Hebrews 12:2
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 on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 John; Origen of Alexandria, SERMONS ON EXODUS 4.2 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 John.