2nd John Chapter 1 verse 4 Holy Bible
I rejoice greatly that I have found `certain' of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
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It gave me great joy to see some of your children walking in the true way, even as we were ordered to do by the Father.
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I rejoiced greatly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment from the Father.
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I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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read chapter 1 in WBT
I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
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I rejoiced exceedingly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, even as a command we did receive from the Father;
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 4. - I rejoice greatly that I have found (certain) of thy children walking in truth. The Revised Version is certainly right in rendering εὕρηκα "I have found" rather than "I found;" and it is probably right in rendering ἐχάρην "I rejoice" rather than "I rejoiced." It looks like the idiomatic "epistolary aorist," of which we have had probable instances in 1 John 2:21 and 26. In this idiom the point of view of the recipient of the letter is taken instead of that of the writer. In Latin the imperfect is used in a similar way - scribebam, dabamus; and sometimes the perfect, scripsi, misi, and the like (comp. Acts 23:30; Philippians 2:25, 28; Philemon 1:11, 19, 21. See Moulton's Winer, page 347). We are probably to understand this verse as a gentle intimation on the part of the elder that he has reason to know that certain others of her children are not walking in truth. Through the elect lady's too indiscriminate hospitality, some of her children have been seduced by the deceivers who have come to her bringing other doctrine than that of Christ.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) St. John had lately had opportunity of observing bow some of the matron's children proved their adherence to the truth by their daily conduct. Having congratulated her about this, he states the chief thing which he desires of her: the pure Christian love which implies every other grace and virtue; in other words, walking after the divine commandments. That this love should be pure, that these commandments should be unimpaired, it was necessary to remember that nothing new could be added to the original message of Christ. This warning was timely, because many errors had already appeared, especially that greatest error which denied the Incarnation. The family must, therefore, be on its guard, lest it should be cheated of its reward. The test was very simple: any advance beyond the doctrine of Christ. It would be better for the family not to entertain in their house any who had committed themselves to these doctrines of development (2John 1:4-11).(2 a.) (4) I rejoiced . . .--Comp. Romans 1:8; 1Corinthians 1:4; 2Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3. . . .
