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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

2 John 1:9

Whosoever goeth onward

(πας ο προαγων). "Every one who goes ahead. Προαγω literally means to go on before (Mark 11:9). That in itself is often the thing to do, but here the bad sense comes out by the parallel clause.And abideth not in the teaching of Christ

(κα μη μενων εν τη διδαχη του Χριστου). Not the teaching about Christ, but that of Christ which is the standard of Christian teaching as the walk of Christ is the standard for the Christian's walk (1 John 2:6). See John 7:16; John 18:19. These Gnostics claimed to be the progressives, the advanced thinkers, and were anxious to relegate Christ to the past in their onward march. This struggle goes on always among those who approach the study of Christ. Is he a "landmark" merely or is he our goal and pattern? Progress we all desire, but progress toward Christ, not away from him. Reactionary obscurantists wish no progress toward Christ, but desire to stop and camp where they are. "True progress includes the past" (Westcott). Jesus Christ is still ahead of us all calling us to come on to him.

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See also 2 John 1:9 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    VER. 2 JOHN 1:9 didach|/ (2) {A} After the second didach|/ the Textus Receptus, following K L P most minuscules copbo eth, adds tou/ Cristou/. This reading is obviously secondary, the result of scriba...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 John 1:9. _WHOSOEVER TRANSGRESSETH_] παραβαινων. He who _passes_ over the sacred enclosure, or _goes beyond_ the prescribed limits; _and abideth not in the doctrine_-does not remain _within_ t...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHOSOEVER TRANSGRESSETH, AND ABIDETH NOT IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, HATH NOT GOD - In the doctrine which Christ taught, or the true doctrine respecting him. The language is somewhat ambiguous, like th...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    THE SECOND EPISTLE The Second Epistle is addressed by the elder unto the elect lady and her children. The word elder has the same meaning as it has in 1 Peter 5:1. Some take it that the elect lady me...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXHORTATION AND WARNING. The commandment of love given by Christ to His Church from the beginning must be faithfully observed. Loyalty to Christ meant that His followers must beware of the false teach...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    There is all the more reason to speak like this because there have gone out into the world many deceivers, men who do not confess that Jesus is Christ, and his coming in the flesh. Such a man is the d...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE ELECT LADY (2 John 1:1-3)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TRANSGRESSETH. App-128. The texts read "goeth before", Greek. _proago._ See 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 5:24.Hebrews 7:18. This refers to false teachers who claimed to bring some higher teaching, beyond...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    We now enter upon the main portion of the Epistle, which has three divisions: _Exhortation to Love and Obedience_(5, 6); _Warnings against False Doctrine_(7 9); _Warnings against False Charity_(10, 11...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Warnings against False Doctrine 7 9. The third element in the triplet of leading thoughts once more comes to the front, but without being named. Love and obedience require, as the condition of their e...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Explains more fully what is at stake; no less than the possession of the Father and the Son. _Whosoever transgresseth_ This is a simplification (KL) of a much more difficult reading (א AB), _Whosoever...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    WARNINGS AGAINST FALSE DOCTRINE 7–9. The third element in the triplet of leading thoughts once more comes to the front, but without being named. Love and obedience require, as the condition of their e...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    We now enter upon the main portion of the Epistle, which has three divisions: _Exhortation to Love and Obedience_ (5, 6); _Warnings against False Doctrine_ (7–9); _Warnings against False Charity_ (10,...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    For παραβαίνων ([891][892][893]) read ΠΡΟΆΓΩΝ ([894][895][896]). After the second ΔΙΔΑΧΗ͂Ι omit τοῦ Χριστοῦ with [897][898][899] against [900][901]. [891] 9th century. All three Epistles. [892] 9th ce...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΡΟΆΓΩΝ _praes. act. part. от_ ΠΡΟΆΓΩ (G4254) предшествовать, бежать впереди. Возможно, это саркастическое упоминание о лжеучителях, которые в своей гордости пытаются развить учение; старейшина говори...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHOSOEVER TRANSGRESSETH,— Instances of expressing the same thought, both negatively and positively, abound in the first epistle of St. John; (see ch. 2 John 1:5.) and not only the sentiments, but many...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Warning of waywardness. 2 John 1:7-11 (2 John 1:7) Because many wanderers have gone out into the world, the ones not confessing Jesus as Christ coming in flesh; this is the deceiver and the antichrist...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. The loss (2 John 1:8) is explained:...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 9. WHOSOEVER TRANSGRESSETH, AND ABIDETH NOT. Plain, it must be, that a life of transgression can not be pursued, and one so acting be in Christ; on the contrary, one so doing is not in Christ th...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 It is a striking fact that John never appeals to his apostleship in his epistles. In this short note, as well as in the next one, he is simply an elder. This accords with the private character of th...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    1:9 forward (d-3) What is called 'development.' he does not abide in what was from the beginning....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WHOSOEVER, not TRANSGRESSETH, but 'has erroneous ideas.' No claim of superior knowledge can be allowed which sets aside what Christ taught. DOCTRINE in the NT. is never synonymous with' dogma,' but me...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW TO LIVE IN THE TRUTH 2 JOHN _IAN MACKERVOY_ ABOUT THIS LETTER 1. WRITER At the start of the letter, the writer calls himself the ‘*elder’. There are three ways that we can use the word ‘*eld...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (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 ch...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Progress in Theological Thought. “Every one that ‘progresseth' and abideth not in the eaching of the Christ hath not God; he that abideth in the teaching this man hath both the Father and the Son.” ὁ...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    WALKING IN TRUTH 2 John 1:1 This exquisite letter, a model of old-world correspondence, was probably written when the Apostle was the guest of the nephews of the lady addressed. The Epistle revolves...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    BEWARE OF DECEIVERS John warned the elect lady that "many deceivers have gone out into the world." The word "deceivers" comes from the Greek word for wandering or roving, according to Thayer. They tra...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    We here see the reward for adhering to the Catholic faith, and the condemnation for revolting from the received truth. The apostles, and their lawful successors in the ministry, determine the true doc...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _TEST OF PERMANENCE IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE_ ‘Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son....

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Second and Third Epistles of John insist on the truth. The Second warns the faithful against the reception of those who do not teach the doctrine of Christ, especially the truth respecting the Per...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHOSOEVER TRANSGRESSETH,.... Not the law of God, of which everyone is a transgressors and that daily, in thought, word, or deed; but who passes over the rule and standard of doctrine, the word of God,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Ver. 9. _Hath not God_] And so conseq...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Look to yourselves_ Take heed, lest you grow remiss or negligent in the course of your obedience. _That we lose not_, &c. Lest you lose the reward of what you have already done, which every apostate...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    DOCTRINE OF CHRIST; that taught by him and his apostles, especially his having come in the flesh and made an atonement for the sin of the world. HATH NOT GOD; not a right knowledge of him, nor an int...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    WHOSOEVER TRANSGRESSETH, AND ABIDETH NOT IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, HATH NOT GOD. HE THAT ABIDETH IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, HE HATH BOTH THE FATHER AND THE SON....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Warning against false teachers...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-11 The deceiver and his deceit are described: he brings some error concerning the person or office of the Lord Jesus. Such a one is a deceiver and an antichrist; he deludes souls, and undermines th...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    See 1 JOHN 2:23....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 John 1:9 Whoever G3956 transgresses G3845 (G5723) and G2532 not G3361 abide G3306 (G5723) in G1722 doctrine...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Look to yourselves, that you do not lose the things which we have wrought, but that you receive a full reward. Whoever goes onward and abides not in the teaching of Christ, has not God. He who abides...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2 John 1:9. WHOSOEVER GOETH FORWARD, AND ABIDETH NOT IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, HATH NOT GOD. This seems beyond doubt the true reading, and the verse thus becomes one of the utmost importance and inte...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    TRANSGRESSETH SIN (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 3:23). _...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Truth and love inseparable in the Christian life. Doctrine the test of reality. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, John, elect lady, anti-christ. CONCLUSION: The test of our love to God is universal...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    ANYONE WHO DOES NOT STAY. "Some say that being put right with God through Christ is all right to begin with, but that you must _progress_ on to _higher things._' But do not be fooled by such talk! Any...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ._ THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST The words “doctrine of Christ” may signify either that doctrine which Christ taught when He was here on ea...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 JOHN—NOTE ON 2 JOHN 1:9 The Elder’s Warning. The congregation must not listen to persons who do not “abide in the teaching of Christ” (v. 2 John 1:9)....

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    PREFACE TO THE SECOND AND THIRD EPISTLE OF S. JOHN.. SEVERAL ancient writers have entertained doubts respecting the Second and Third Epistles of S. John, supposing them to have been written by John t...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _Whosoever goeth back_, &c. The Greek is _παζαβαινιν_, i.e., who _transgresses_. The Syriac reads, _he who passes by, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, has not God for his friend._...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Tonight, we want to look at 2 John and 3 John and the book of Jude, all short little one-chapter epistles. The epistles of 2 John and 3 John were of course, written by the apostle John. A situation ex...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 1:3; 1 John 2:22; Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 3:14;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Whosoever transgresseth [π α ς ο π α ρ α β α ι ν ω ν]. The best texts read proagwn goeth onward. So Rev., with taketh the lead in margin. The meaning is, whosoever advances beyond the limits of Christ...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Receive this as a certain rule: Whosoever transgresseth — Any law of God. Hath not God — For his Father and his God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ — Believing and obeying it. He hath both...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. The character given of the gospel, it is THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST: that is, the doctrine relating to Christ, and the doctrine taught by Christ. Observe, 2. What is affirmed of those tha...

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Old Testament