WEB

2 John 1

Just thirteen verses, addressed by "the elder" to a "chosen lady and her children" — likely a local congregation pictured as a household. The word truth saturates the opening greeting, then the letter turns to a single request: keep the old command to love one another (vv.5-6). Watch the pivot at verse 7. Warmth gives way to alarm over "deceivers" who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and the elder forbids even hosting such teachers (vv.10-11). It ends abruptly: he would rather come and speak face to face than fill more paper and ink.

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2 John 1 (WEB)

1
The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,
2
for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:
3
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4
I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
5
Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6
This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
8
Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.
9
Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10
If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,
11
for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
12
Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
13
The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.

2 Juan 1 (RV1909)

1
EL anciano á la señora elegida y á sus hijos, á los cuales yo amo en verdad; y no yo solo, sino también todos los que han conocido la verdad,
2
Por la verdad que está en nosotros, y será perpetuamente con nosotros:
3
Sea con vosotros gracia, misericordia, y paz de Dios Padre, y del Señor Jesucristo, Hijo del Padre, en verdad y en amor.
4
Mucho me he gozado, porque he hallado de tus hijos, que andan en verdad, como nosotros hemos recibido el mandamiento del Padre.
5
Y ahora te ruego, señora, no como escribiéndote un nuevo mandamiento, sino aquel que nosotros hemos tenido desde el principio, que nos amemos unos á otros.
6
Y este es amor, que andemos según sus mandamientos. Este es el mandamiento: Que andéis en él, como vosotros habéis oído desde el principio.
7
Porque muchos engañadores son entrados en el mundo, los cuales no confiesan que Jesucristo ha venido en carne. Este tal el engañador es, y el anticristo.
8
Mirad por vosotros mismos, porque no perdamos las cosas que hemos obrado, sino que recibamos galardón cumplido.
9
Cualquiera que se rebela, y no persevera en la doctrina de Cristo, no tiene á Dios: el que persevera en la doctrina de Cristo, el tal tiene al Padre y al Hijo.
10
Si alguno viene á vosotros, y no trae esta doctrina, no lo recibáis en casa, ni le digáis: ¡bienvenido!
11
Porque el que le dice bienvenido, comunica con sus malas obras.
12
Aunque tengo muchas cosas que escribiros, no he querido comunicarlas por medio de papel y tinta; mas espero ir á vosotros, y hablar boca á boca, para que nuestro gozo sea cumplido.
13
Los hijos de tu hermana elegida te saludan. Amén.

Why hospitality becomes a test

Refusing to receive a traveling teacher (v.10) sounds harsh until you notice how early-church mission worked: itinerant teachers depended on believers' homes for lodging and a platform. To welcome one was to lend your house as an endorsement, so the elder treats the doorstep as a doctrinal line — sheltering a denier means you "participate in his evil deeds" (v.11).

This is the same boundary 1 John drew around confessing Christ in the flesh, now applied to a concrete, everyday decision rather than abstract belief.