2 John 1:6
in 2 John 1And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.
KJV
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
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This verse in 2 John 1
Commentary
11 notes on this verse"Not as a new commandment." And this is in agreement with what is said in the first epistle (1 John 2:7). He also adds the requirement of the commandment: "that we love one another." And he explains concerning love that its essence consists in walking …
This site's exposition
walking in the truth
on 2 John 1:4-6
The elder rejoices over children walking in the truth. His request is one we have had from the beginning, echoing 1 John 2:7 and John 13:34. Love is to walk according to His commandments, and the commandment is to walk in love, each defining the other.
This site's exposition
this is love
Love and command define each other here. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown set Romans 13:10 beside the verse, since love fulfils the law and keeping the law is the test of love. John Wesley calls obedience built on the love of God the proof that love is real.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Meanwhile let us continue in the way we have come along so far, until God reveals it to us if we are otherwise minded.
For it is the same to walk according to the commandments and to receive them. For virtues operate and exist according to their operation. Therefore, whoever ceases to progress in these, neither keeps nor guards them. To walk, indeed, is said according to development and …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And this is the proof of true love, universal obedience built on the love of God. Is the great commandment which ye have heard from the beginning - Of our preaching.
This report is introduced by a particle that bespeaks a reason of the report. "You have need to maintain your love, for there are destroyers of it in the world. Those who subvert the faith destroy the love; the common faith is one ground of the common love;" or, "You must secure your walk according to the commands of God; this will secure you.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Ro 13:10), and the fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love. This is the commandment--Greek, "The commandment is this," namely, love, in which all God's other commandments are summed up.
And this is love - That is, our love is shown and proved by our walking according to the commandments of God; for love is the principle of obedience.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments - This is the proper expression or evidence of love to God. See the notes at Joh 14:15, Joh 14:21. This is the commandment - That is, this is his great and special commandment; the one by which his disciples are to be especially characterized, and by which they are to be distinguished in the world. See the notes at Joh 13:34.
The words behind it
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αὕτη | haute | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐστὶν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγάπη | agape | love | G26 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| περιπατῶμεν | peripatomen | we may walk | G4043 → | 94 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐντολὰς | entolas | commandments | G1785 → | 67 times |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | of Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
| αὕτη | haute | This | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐντολή | entole | commandment | G1785 → | 67 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | |
| ἠκούσατε | ekousate | you have heard | G191 → | |
| ἀπ᾽ | ap᾽ | from | G575 → | |
| ἀρχῆς, | arches | [the] beginning, | G746 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| αὐτῇ | autea | it | G846 → | 5565 times |
| περιπατῆτε· | peripatete | you may walk; | G4043 → | 94 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αὕτηthis
hauteG3778 →1381 times
ἐστὶνis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
ἀγάπηlove
agapeG26 →
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
περιπατῶμενwe may walk
peripatomenG4043 →94 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
ἐντολὰςcommandments
entolasG1785 →67 times
αὐτοῦ.of Him.
autouG846 →5565 times
αὕτηThis
hauteG3778 →1381 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ἐντολήcommandment
entoleG1785 →67 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →
ἠκούσατεyou have heard
ekousateG191 →
ἀπ᾽from
ap᾽G575 →
ἀρχῆς,[the] beginning,
archesG746 →
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
αὐτῇit
auteaG846 →5565 times
περιπατῆτε·you may walk;
peripateteG4043 →94 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 14:15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
it leads to
- John 14:21–24
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 2:3–5
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
- 1 John 5:2–3
By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.
- John 15:10–14
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- 1 John 4:19–20
We love because He first loved us.
- John 14:21–24
Through
John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
it leads to
- John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
- 1 John 3:21–24
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
- John 14:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 John
This page draws on 9 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); Augustine of Hippo, LETTERS 175; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; 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.