II John 1:3
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Grace be with you--One of the oldest manuscripts and several versions have "us" for you. The Greek is literally, "Grace shall be with us," that is, with both you and me. A prayer, however, is implied besides a confident affirmation. grace . . . mercy . . . peace--"Grace" covers the sins of men; "mercy," their miseries. Grace must first do away with man's guilt before his misery can be relieved by mercy. Therefore grace stands before mercy. Peace is the result of both, and therefore stands third in order. Casting all our care on the Lord, with thanksgiving, maintains this peace. the Lord--The oldest manuscripts and most of the oldest versions omit "the Lord." John never elsewhere uses this title in his Epistles, but "the Son of God." in truth and love--The element or sphere in which alone grace, mercy, and peace, have place. He mentions truth in Jo2 1:4; love, in Jo2 1:5. Paul uses FAITH and love; for faith and truth are close akin.
Open source ↗The apostle here salutes an honourable matron and her children (Jo2 1:1-3). Recommends to them faith and love (Jo2 1:5, Jo2 1:6). Warns them of deceivers (Jo2 1:7), and to take heed to themselves (Jo2 1:8). Teaches how to treat those who bring not the doctrine of Christ (Jo2 1:10, Jo2 1:11). And, referring other things to personal discourse, concludes the epistle (Jo2 1:12, Jo2 1:13).
Open source ↗1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace are blessings of which John is confident for those who live in truth and love, and who demonstrate by their actions that they are God’s children.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore you are to love both truth and peace.”