9a

Anyone who runs ahead: (Metaphor) The topic of this metaphor is anyone who is not content with the teaching of Christ and therefore adds his own teaching to it. When someone does this he will begin to ignore the teaching of Christ.

9b

the teaching of Christ: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two ways of interpreting this “of” phrase:

(1) It probably means “the things that Christ taught.”

(2) It may mean “the things we have been taught about Christ.”

9c

have God: (Meaning) As in 1 John 2:23b this refers to a Christian’s close relationship and union with God. Its meaning is similar to the phrase, “in God.” See the note on 1 John 2:5c “in Him.”

9e

the Father and the Son: (Translation) In your translation it may be necessary to expand this phrase to make it clear that it is referring to God the Father and God’s Son.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

10a

(Good News Translation) then: (Logical Relationship) It may be helpful in translation to have a connecting word at the beginning of verse 10. This could help to show that the instructions in verses 10 and 11 are based on what John has said in verses 7–9.

If anyone comes to you: (Meaning) John is referring to the false teachers who were traveling around from church to church.

to you: (Pronoun Reference) The you here is plural, referring to the lady and her children, or in other words, to all the Christians who John was writing to.

10b

this teaching: (Pronoun Reference) The phrase this teaching refers back to Christ’s teachings as mentioned in verse 9.

10c

do not receive him into your home: (Meaning) John means that the Christians should not entertain these false teachers as guests in their homes or invite them to stay with them.

10d

or even greet him: (Meaning) This probably refers to greeting such a person as a fellow Christian.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

11a

(Good News Translation) For: (Logical Relationship) The connecting word shows that this verse gives the reason for the instruction not to welcome the false teachers.

11b

shares in: (Meaning) This indicates that a person who welcomes a false teacher is helping him, and so he is becoming a partner with the false teacher in his evil deeds.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Section 12–13

Final comments

Read 12–13 carefully in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Section Theme: These verses contain John’s final comments and greetings to close the letter.

12b

I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink: (Meaning) John is not saying that there is anything wrong with using paper and ink. This is merely another way of saying that he would prefer to talk with them face to face.

paper and ink: (Translation) This is an idiom meaning “in a letter.” In your translation you should consider what is the natural way of saying this in your language.

12d

face to face: (Translation) This is also an idiom. It should be translated by a natural phrase for having a friendly personal talk with someone.

12e

complete: (Meaning) As in 1 John 1:4, this means “as great as it can be,” “without any sadness or anything to spoil it.”

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

13a

children…sister: (Discourse Feature) John is using these terms in the same way that he used “lady” and “children” in verse 1. See the note on verse 1. Here these terms refer to the church and its members in the place where John was.

elect: (Passive Construction) As in verse 1, this is referring to the fact that God has chosen this “sister” to be among his people.

13b

send you greetings: (Pronoun Reference) The you here is singular, referring to the lady.

© 2003 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.