2 John 1:11
What does 2 John 1:11 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 John 1:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 John 1:11 means
John explains the seriousness of the previous instruction: to give a greeting—signifying welcome and partnership—to a false teacher is to share in that person’s evil works. Participation can be indirect yet real when it provides support or credibility to corruption. The warning presses believers to consider the effects of their alliances. Love for neighbor does not mean enabling error. Instead, true love refuses to cooperate with what harms others spiritually. By drawing this line, John preserves the purity of the church’s witness and protects vulnerable believers from being misled by teachers who appear endorsed by faithful Christians.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For he who gives him words of love has a part in his evil works.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for he who is saying to him, `Hail,' hath fellowship with his evil works.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For he that saith unto him: God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for he who greets him partakes in his wicked works.
Context
This verse concludes the main warning (vv. 7–11) by giving the moral logic for withholding hospitality: helping false teachers makes one a participant in their evil. With the boundary firmly set, John transitions in verse 12 to a more personal note about preferring face-to-face encouragement. The structure of the letter thus moves from greeting, to joy and exhortation, to warning and application, and finally to affectionate closing remarks that maintain unity without compromising truth.
v.10If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:
v.11This passage
v.12Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Timothy 5:22
Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
- Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:
- Ephesians 5:11
and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;
- Psalms 50:18
When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst with him, And hast been partaker with adulterers.