2 John 1:9 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
2 John 1:9
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.
figuratively · noun — accusative singular masculine, a title
abideth
μένωνmenōn
G3306
to stay (in a given place · verb — present active participle, nominative singular masculine
in
ἐνen
G1722
"in · preposition
doctrine
διδαχῇdidachēa
G1322
instruction (the act or the matter) · noun — dative singular feminine
Christ
Χριστοῦ,Christou
G5547
anointed · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
he
οὗτοςhoutos
G3778
the he (she or it) · demonstrative pronoun — nominative singular masculine
hath
ἔχει.echei
G2192
to hold (used in very various applications · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular
both
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
Father
πατέραpatera
G3962
a "father" (literally or figuratively · noun — accusative singular masculine, a title
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
Son
υἱὸνhuion
G5207
a "son" (sometimes of animals) · noun — accusative singular masculine
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
John 7:16-17 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing…
1 John 2:22-24 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burn…
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father…
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
John 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent h…
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on 2 John 1:7-9
In this principal part of the epistle we find,
I. The ill news communicated to the lady-seducers are abroad: For many deceivers have entered into the world. 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. Your stability is likely to be tried, for many deceivers have entered into the world." Sad and saddening news may be communicated to our Christian friends; not that we should love to make them sorr…
The loss (Jo2 1:8) 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). Compare Jo3 1:9, "Loveth to have the pre-eminence."
hath not God-- (Jo1 2:23; Jo1 5:15). The second "of Christ" is omitted in the oldest manuscripts, but is understood in the sense.
He--emphatical: He and He alone.
Adam Clarke on 2 John 1:9
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.
John Gill on 2 John 1:9
Whosoever transgresseth,.... Not the law of God, of which everyone is a transgressors and that daily, in thought, word, or deed; but who passes over the rule and standard of doctrine, the word of God, and will not adhere to that, nor walk according to it, but rejects and despises that rule:
and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ; which he received from his Father, and delivered to his apostles, and of which he is the sum and substance; the doctrine which is concerning his person as the Son of God, and as truly God, and the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his one person; and concerning his office, as the Mediator, surety, and messenger of the covenant, and as the prophet, p…
The Church Fathers
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 teaching has both the Son and the Father, to show that the Father and the Son are one true God, and to convict those of falsehood who assert that the Son is either not God, or is posterior or inferior to the Father.
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 coming of the Lord in the flesh, one can either achieve the perfect justice owed to the faithful through works or be regarded as a worshiper of God at all. But whoever transgresses this commandment of His, namely of Christ who has come, and does not remain in His doctrine, does not have God." For if He came to teach men the perfect knowledge of God, He would seem to be rejected; how then could He be a worshiper of God who disapproves of the interpreter of divine contemplations? Therefore, he would be ἄθεος, that is, "without God", just as on the other hand, ἔνθεος, that is, divine and "a friend of God", having all the fullness of divinity within himself, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who is firm and solid in the doctrine of Christ. For Jesus teaches about the Father, saying: "All things that the Father has are mine." (Jn. 16:15) He often teaches both about the Father and about Himself, that indeed He is the Father, but He is the Son; and concerning the Holy Spirit, when He says: "The Spirit who proceeds from the Father." (Jn. 15:26) However, when he says: "Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:19) And although in this place the mention is made only of the Father and the Son by the Lord's disciple, and not of the Holy Spirit, do not be offended. For it was only concerning this that he was compelled and desired to speak, about the Father, I say, and the Son. And indeed, these things have been said in the present context, lest we be more lengthy. However, John remains in the teaching of Christ or the Gospel, who according to it feels and acts, living by contemplating and working together; but whoever separates himself from this, is godless. For just as one who has a perfect way of life makes himself familiar with God, as Abraham did, according to what he heard from God Himself: "I am your God," (Gen. 17:1) so too, whoever lives outside the command of the Gospel, is godless, separating himself so that he may not have God. But since here he is godless, namely, who has alienated himself from divine discipline, certainly he who remains in it has…
Anyone who wanders away from this teaching (literally everyone going beyond and not remaining in the teaching): To go beyond is to contradict the apostolic teachings about Jesus Christ and believe things about Jesus that were not taught by the apostles. This is a warning to the church not to listen to the false teachers.
