The Johannine Letters

[John Reece]

2 John 8

Text (NA27):

βλέπετε ἑαυτούς, ἵνα μὴ ἀπολέσητε ἃ εἰργασάμεθα ἀλλὰ μισθὸν πλήρη ἀπολάβητε.

Transliteration (Accordance):

blepete heautous, hina mē apolesēte ha eirgasametha alla misthon plērē apolabēte.

Translation (NRSV):

Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

βλέπετε : imperative of βλέπω look, βλέπετε ἑαυτούς look to yourselves, beware.
ἵνα μή : that ... not, lest.
ἀπολέσητε : aorist subjunctive of ἀπόλλυμι lose [[variant ἀπολέσωμεν]].
εἰργασάμεθα : we have achieved, aorist of ἐργάζομαι (transitive) work for/undertake something.
μισθός : reward.
πλήρης : full.
ἀπολάβητε : aorist subjunctive of ἀπολαμβάνω receive what is due [[variant ἀπολάβομεν]].

[John Reece]

2 John 9

Text (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

Pas ho proagōn kai mē menōn en tȩ̄ didachȩ̄ tou Christou theon ouk echei; ho menōn en tȩ̄ didachȩ̄, houtos kai ton patera kai ton huion echei.

Translation (NRSV):

Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

προάγων : participle of προάγω go ahead.
διδαχή : teaching.
καί...καί : both...and.

[John Reece]

2 John 10

Text (NA27):

εἴ τις ἔρχεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ ταύτην τὴν διδαχὴν οὐ φέρει, μὴ λαμβάνετε αὐτὸν εἰς οἰκίαν καὶ χαίρειν αὐτῷ μὴ λέγετε

Transliteration (Accordance):

ei tis erchetai pros hymas kai tautēn tēn didachēn ou pherei, mē lambanete auton eis oikian kai chairein autō̧ mē legete

Translation (NRSV):

Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

φέρω : bring.
λαμβάνετε, λέγετε : imperative ; present imperative not "stop receiving..." but retaining iterative force, never receive him ... never give him a greeting.
χαίρειν : Greek formula of greeting welcome!

[John Reece]

2 John 11

Text (NA27):

ὁ λέγων γὰρ αὐτῷ χαίρειν κοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς.

Transliteration (Accordance):

ho legōn gar autō̧ chairein koinōnei tois ergois autou tois ponērois.

Translation (NRSV):

for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

κοινωνέω : share/take part in.

[John Reece]

2 John 12

Text (NA27):

Πολλὰ ἔχων ὑμῖν γράφειν οὐκ ἐβουλήθην διὰ χάρτου καὶ μέλανος, ἀλλὰ ἐλπίζω γενέσθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ στόμα πρὸς στόμα λαλῆσαι, ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν πεπληρωμένη ᾖ.

Transliteration (Accordance):

Polla echōn hymin graphein ouk eboulēthēn dia chartou kai melanos, alla elpizō genesthai pros hymas kai stoma pros stoma lalēsai, hina hē chara hēmōn peplērōmenē ȩ̄.

Translation (NRSV):

Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἔχων : concessive : though I have.
ἐβουλήθην : aorist deponent of βούλομαι want, perhaps epistolary aorist I do not want (understand to do so).
διά : with genitive of manner, with.
χάρτης : papyrus, in use the equivalent of today's paper.
μέλας, -αινα, -αν : black ; τὸ μέλαν ink.
γενέσθαι : aorist infinitive of γίνομαι : γενέσθαι πρὸς (τινα) come to (one).
στόμα πρὸς στόμα : face to face (literally "mouth to mouth").
λαλῆσαι : aorist infinitive of λαλέω talk.
χαρά : joy.
πεπληρωμένη : perfect passive participle of πληρόω, with ᾖ (subjunctive of εἰμί be) forming a periphrastic construction.

[John Reece]

2 John 13

Text (NA27):

Ἀσπάζεταί σε τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἀδελφῆς σου τῆς ἐκλεκτῆς.

Transliteration (Accordance):

Aspazetai se ta tekna tēs adelphēs sou tēs eklektēs.

Translation (NRSV):

The children of your elect sister send you their greetings.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἀσπάζομαι : greet.
τέκνον : child.
ἀδελπὴ ἐλεκτή : a "sister" community of Christians like ἡ κυρία ἐλεκτή verse 1.

[John Reece]

Text (NA27):

Ὁ πρεσβύτερος Γαΐῳ τῷ ἀγαπητῷ, ὃν ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ.

Transliteration (Accordance):

hO presbyteros Gaiō̧ tō̧ agapētō̧, hon egō agapō en alētheia̧.

Translation (NRSV):

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἀγαπητός : beloved.
ἐν ἀληθείᾳ : in truth, i.e., sincerely.

[John Reece]

3 John 2

Text (NA27):

Ἀγαπητέ, περὶ πάντων εὔχομαί σε εὐοδοῦσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν, καθὼς εὐοδοῦταί σου ἡ ψυχή.

Transliteration (Accordance):

Agapēte, peri pantōn euchomai se euodousthai kai hygiainein, kathōs euodoutai sou hē psychē.

Translation (NRSV):

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἀγαπητέ : vocative of ἀγαπητός beloved.
περὶ πάντων : in every way, associated with εὐοδοῦσθαι.
εὔχομαι = προσεύχομαι petition diety, pray.
εὐοδοῦσθαι : infinitive of εὐοδόομαι "be well led"; do well, succeed.
ὑγιαίνειν : infinitive of ὑγιαίνω be in good health, be well.

[John Reece]

3 John 3

Text (NA27):

ἐχάρην γὰρ λίαν ἐρχομένων ἀδελφῶν καὶ μαρτυρούντων σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, καθὼς σὺ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ περιπατεῖς.

Transliteration (Accordance):

echarēn gar lian erchomenōn adelphōn kai martyrountōn sou tȩ̄ alētheia̧, kathōs sy en alētheia̧ peripateis.

Translation (NRSV):

I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἐχάρην : aorist deponent of χαίρω rejoice.
λίαν : much, greatly.
ἐρχομένων : participle of ἔρχομαι, genitive absolute, when brethren [Christians] came.
μαρτυρούντων : participle of μαρτυρέω (τινί) testify (in favor of); hence μαρτυρούντων σου τῇ ἀληθείᾳ brought good news of your (life in) truth.
καθώς : as (in fact).
περιπατέω : walk, here behave.

[John Reece]

3 John 4

Text (NA27):

μειζοτέραν τούτων οὐκ ἔχω χαράν, ἵνα ἀκούω τὰ ἐμὰ τέκνα ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ περιπατοῦντα.

Transliteration (Accordance):

meizoteran toutōn ouk echō charan, hina akouō ta ema tekna en tȩ̄ alētheia̧ peripatounta.

Translation (ESV):

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

μειζοτέραν : comparative of a comparative (μείζων; cf English less-er) greater.
χαρά : joy.
τούτων : genitive of comparison, than this.
ἵνα ἀκούω : subjunctive (namely) that I hear.
περιπατοῦντα : neuter plural participle of περιπατέω walk.

[John Reece]

3 John 5

Text (NA27):

Αγαπητέ, πιστὸν ποιεῖς ὃ ἐὰν ἐργάσῃ εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ τοῦτο ξένους,

Transliteration (Accordance):

Agapēte, piston poieis ho ean ergasȩ̄ eis tous adelphous kai touto xenous,

Translation (ESV):

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are,

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἀγαπητέ : vocative of ἀγαπητός beloved.
πιστός : faithful, πιστὸν ποιεῖς do a work of faith.
ὃ ἐάν : (= ἄν) all that.
ἐργάσῃ : aorist subjunctive of ἐργάζομαι work ; undertake, do work.
εἰς : for.
καὶ τοῦτο : and especially, and...at that.
ξένος : strange, foreign.

[John Reece]

3 John 6

Text (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

hoi emartyrēsan sou tȩ̄ agapȩ̄ enōpion ekklēsias, hous kalōs poiēseis propempsas axiōs tou theou;

Translation (NRSV):

they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God;

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἐμαρτύρησάν : aorist of μαρτυρέω (τινί) testify (in favor of).
καλῶς : well, καλῶς ποιήσεις (future of ποιέω) with participle = English please.
προπέμψας : aorist participle of προπέμπω send on one's way, implying provision for the journey.
ἀξίως : worthily, ἀξίως τοῦ θεοῦ i.e. doing your best as in the service of God.

[John Reece]

3 John 7

Text (NA27):

ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἐξῆλθον μηδὲν λαμβάνοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνικῶν.

Transliteration (Accordance):

ὑπὲρ gar tou onomatos exēlthon mēden lambanontes apo tōn ethnikōn.

Translation (NRSV):

for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ὑπέρ : for the sake of.
τό ὄνομα : i.e. of Jesus = Jesus himself.
λαμβάνοντες : participle of λαμβάνω receive, accept.
ἐθνικός : (< ἔθνη gentiles) pagan.

[John Reece]

3 John 8

Text (NA27):

ἡμεῖς οὖν ὀφείλομεν ὑπολαμβάνειν τοὺς τοιούτους, ἵνα συνεργοὶ γινώμεθα τῇ ἀληθείᾳ.

Transliteration (Accordance):

nēmeis oun opheilomen hypolambanein tous toioutous, hina synergoi ginōmetha tȩ̄ alētheia̧.

Translation (NRSV):

Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ὀφείλω : owe, with infinitive ought, we owe it (to them) to...
ὑπολαμβάνειν : infinitive of ὑπολαμβάνω welcome.
τοιοῦτος : such (a one).
συνεργός : fellow worker.
γινώμεθα : subjunctive of γίνομαι become.
τῇ ἀληθείᾳ : in truth or for the truth, i.e. the gospel.

[John Reece]

3 John 9

Text (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἔγραψα : aorist of γράφω : write.
φιλοπρωτεύων : participle of φιλοπρωτεύω (τινός) : like to take the lead/dominate (one) ; in common with verbs of preeminence followed by genitive of comparison, plural according to sense (church members).
ἐπιδέχομαι : receive, accept.
ἡμᾶς : (accusative plural of ἐγώ) us, perhaps signifying "my authority".