Fathers

2 John 1

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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, for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever: 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. I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father. 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. 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. 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. Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. 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. If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him, for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds. 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. The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.

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What the Fathers say

2 John 1:10

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

The apostle warns those to whom he writes the epistle that they should not only not receive under their roof anyone who comes to them without confessing the teaching of Christ, but should not even greet him, because a greeting from us should be given only to those who are of the same character and the same faith as us. For to whom should we wish well-being, if not to those of the same character and the same faith as us? …

Commentary on 2 John ↗

Oecumenius

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor greet him. For he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. "If anyone comes to you" (2 Jn. 10) confirms those to whom he writes. If anyone, he says, comes to you without this confession, not only will he not receive protection from you, but he will also not receive the prayer for salvation from you, rightly and cautiously saying this, as if this prayer for salvation is owed only to those who agree with us in morals and faith. …

Commentary on 2 John ↗

Clement of Alexandria

He says, "If any come unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." He forbids us to salute such, and to receive them to our hospitality. For this is not harsh in the case of a man of this sort. But he admonishes them neither to confer nor dispute with such as are not able to handle divine things with intelligence, lest through them they be seduced from the doctrine of truth, influenced by plausible reasons. …

From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

Since it is written that we should avoid such people, how can we not assume that someone who associates with Arians is also an exponent of their heresy?

Synod LETTERS 40

Bede

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, etc. John speaks thus about schismatics or heretics to be detested, what he taught in words, he also practiced in deeds. For his most holy listener and strongest martyr Polycarp, the bishop of the Smyrnaeans, recounts that at a certain time, while he had entered the baths at Ephesus for the sake of washing, and had seen Cerinthus there, he immediately jumped out and left without washing, saying: "Let us flee from here, lest even the baths collapse in which Cerinthus, the enemy …

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles ↗