A key to Biblical allusions in early Quaker writings and early Quaker uses of Biblical phrases
(2 John) GF8: 114 [320]
(2 Jn)
GF8: 114 (1676): (mini-commentary, ending:) So is this not an encouragement to all faithful women, to see that their children do walk in the truth, and abide in the doctrine of Christ, that they may have both the Father and the Son?
1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
1:2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
(2 John 1) RBAF 49
(2 John 1:1-4) GF5: 302
(2 John 1:1) GF4: 325; HPS 440 (EB)
(2 John 1:2) DG83
(2 John 1:4) GF6: 209
(2 John 1:5) GF5: 48
(2 Jn 1:1)
[Other texts citing 2 Jn 1:1: GF4: 325 (1 Jn 3:18)]
1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the [G: this] world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This [G: He that is such one] is a deceiver and an antichrist. qtext
[cf 1 Jn 4:3]
(2 John 1:7-11) GF6: 219
(2 John 1:7) GFJN 188, 464, 472, 630; GF3: 74, 87, 178; GF4: 33; GF5: 126; GF6: 270; GF7: 27 [19], 49 [41], 50f [42], 69 [54], 113 [114], 312 [260]; MFU 67, 101, 116, 146, 201, 202, 228; JN1: 294; JN2: 76, 454, 469, 545; JN3: 41, 103, 222
(2 Jn 1:7)
[Other texts citing 2 Jn 1:7: GF4:33 (Heb 7:1f), MFU 202 (John 14:6)]
GF7: 69 (1653): Here not a deceiver shall stand, nor a false prophet, nor an antichrist [2 Jn 1:7, Mat 24:11], who oppose the light; but with the light all such are seen and comprehended.
GF7: 312 (1668): The truth makes free [John 8:32] ... from the persecuting spirits, free from the false prophets, deceivers, seducers, antichrists [Mat 24:11, 2 Tim 3:13, 2 Jn 1:7]; and all antichristian false prophets, deceivers, and seducers, are satan's bondslaves, vassals and bondmen; and being with his oars chained in his gallies [Isa 33:21?], they carry his wares, and do his work up and down the world; which is the sea. But truth makes free from all these.
MFU 101 (1654): Now let all people see ... whether these are not the deceivers and antichrists, which John speaks of, who are entered into the world, who do not confess Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh [2 Jn 1:7], and deny the light....
JN2: 454 (1655): And you are they that cannot confess Christ come in your flesh now, to give you a sense of your sins and suffer with you in all your passage out of the world, and so are the antichrists John speaks of [2 Jn 1:7]; but this you would shuffle off by saying you confess him come at Jerusalem, and there suffered in his own person.
1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought [G: done], but that we receive a full reward.
1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth [G: continueth; BT: endureth] in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. qtext
1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine [BT: learning], receive him not into your house [G: receive him not to house; BT: him receive not to house], neither bid him God speed: qtext
1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
(2 John 1:8-10) GF5: 49
(2 Jn 1:9-11) JN1: 23, 219, 225, 524; JN2: 159f
(2 Jn 1:9) GF3: 74, 87, 538; GF4: 29; JN1: 83, 159; JN2: 188, 190, 197, 588; JN3: 19; WDS 90; EQ 360 (TA)
(2 Jn 1:9f) JN1: 28; JN2: 199, 553; JN3: 442
(2 John 1:10) GF3: 150, 178f, 186, 526; JN2: 546; JN3: 9; EQ 536 (BR); IP1: 338
(2 John 1:10f) GF5: 126; JN3: 446
(2 Jn 1:9-11)
JN1: 524 (1655; answer to Weld, JN1:465f,): Christ who hath sent us forth hath commanded us to deny your vain customs, and not to salute any by the way [Luke 10:4]; ... And for that place which you would alleged to keep up the world's customs which is clear against you, for the apostle there commands "not to bid Godspeed to any transgressor, that doth not abide in the doctrine of Christ, and who hath not the Father and the Son"; for if the bade Godspeed to any of them they were partakers of their evil deeds [2 Jn 1:9-11] . ... [more]
(2 Jn 1:9)
[Other texts citing 2 Jn 1:9: JN2:587f (John 10:2)]
JN1: 190 (1653): they are not the preachers of the gospel whom we charge, neither in power nor form, but out of the doctrine of Christ [2 Jn 1:9] and the practice of his ministers, both in maintenance and manner of worship, who preach in pulpits with hourglasses, and take tithes, &c.
WDS 90 (1655): Judge. But who are they that walk contrary to Scripture? W. D. They that abide not in the doctrine of Christ [2 Jn 1:9]; but have the chief place in the assemblies; stand praying in the synagogues, love greetings in the market-places, and are called of men, masters [Mat 6:5, 23:6f] which Christ cried wo against; and they that walk in it, walk contrary to Scripture.
(2 Jn 1:10)
JN2: 546 (1655): And if any had not the Father and the Son in them, they was warned not to receive them into their houses. [2 Jn 1:10]
IP1: 338 (1660): For that place of 2 John ver. 10. It is one thing for man not to receive a man into his house, and another thing for him to kill that person who offers to come against his will. Do ye believe in your hearts, that the apostle’s intent was to direct the Christians, to whom he wrote, to keep them out by violence, and to kill them if they could not otherwise keep them out?
1:12[G:1:11b] Having many things to write unto you, [G: Although...write unto you, yet; BT: I had... write unto you: nevertheless] I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face [G: speak mouth to mouth; BT: speak with you mouth to mouth], that our joy may be full.
1:13[G: 1:12] The children [GBT: sons] of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
(2 Jn 1:12) MFS 103
(2 Jn 1:12)
[Other texts citing 2 Jn 1:12: MFS 103 (John 14:18)]
1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved [GBT: beloved] Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things [G: chiefly; BT: in all things] that thou mayest prosper and be in health [GBT: prosperedst and faredst well], even as thy soul prospereth.
(3 John 1:1) RBAF 49
1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as [GBT: how] thou walkest in the truth [T: in truth]. qtext
1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear [G: than these, that is, to hear; BT: than for to hear] that my children walk in truth [GBT: my sons walk in verity].
(3 John 1:3) GF7:148 [155], 200 [204], 224 [221], 317 [260]; GF8: 7 [265], 52 [301], 299 [409] [cf Isa 38:3]
(3 John 1:3f) GF5: 302
(3 John 1:4) GF6: 209
(3 Jn 1:3)
GF: walk in the truth (there are other instances of this phrase, e.g. Isa 38:3].
GF 7:148 (1657): Let no Friends be discouraged; but walk in the truth [3 Jn 1:3] and the love of it, and to it bend.
1:5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
1:6 Which have borne witness of thy charity [GBT: love] before the church [G: Churches; T: all the congregation]: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort [G: as it beseemeth according to God; T: as it beseemeth God], thou shalt do well:
1:7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers [GB: we might be helpers; T: we also might be helpers] to the truth. qtext
(3 John 1:7) GF5: 48
(3 John 1:8) WTG 226 (EH)
(3 Jn 1:8)
WTG 226 (Elizabeth Hudson, 1750): our fellow helpers in the work [3 Jn 1:8]
1:9 I wrote unto the church [T: congregation]: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. qtext
1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember [G: call to your remembrance; BT: declare] his deeds which he doeth, prating against us [G: prattling against us; BT: jesting on us] with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth [GBT: thrusteth] them out of the church [T: congregation]. qtext
1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good [GBT: well] is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen [BT: seeth not] God. qtext
1:12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
(3 John 1:9-11) GF6: 178
(3 Jn 1:9) GF3: 479; GF8: 145 [347]; JN2: 13; JN3: 42
(3 Jn 1:9f) GF6: 220
(3 John 1:11) GF7: 57 [45]
(3 Jn 1:9f)
GF6: 220 (1683): [quote 9f] Now here you may see the apostle's care of the church in his day then, which ought to be so now, against such prating Diotrepheses with their malicious words, which love to have the pre-eminence [3 Jn 1:10]. And did not this Diotrephes go under the name of a christian? But John had the power and spirit of Christ to deal with him, and to remember his deeds, and to judge them. And so hath the church of Christ now, with the power and spirit of Christ, to judge and try such spirits, whether they be of God or no [1 Jn 4:1].
(3 Jn 1:11)
GF7: 57: He that committeth sin is of the devil [1 Jn 3:1], and hath not seen God at any time [3 Jn 1:11].
1:13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
1:14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face [GBT: mouth to mouth]. Peace be to thee. Our friends [G: The friends BT: The lovers] salute thee. Greet the friends [BT: lovers] by name.
This page last revised Sept 2007