2 John 1:5

KJV1611 – Modern English

And now I urge you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ νῦν ἐρωτῶ σε, κυρία, οὐχ ὡς ἐντολὴν γράφων σοι καινήν, ἀλλὰ ἣν εἴχομεν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους.

Transliteration

And now I erōtō you, kyria, not as entolēn graphōn to you kainēn, but which we eichomen from archēs, that we might agapōmen allēlous.

Grammar Details

• *erōtō*: present, active, indicative, 1st person singular - ask/request
• *kyria*: vocative, feminine, singular - lady/mistress
• *entolēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - commandment
• *graphōn*: present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - writing
• *kainēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - new
• *eichomen*: imperfect, active, indicative, 1st person plural - were having
• *archēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - beginning
• *agapōmen*: present, active, subjunctive, 1st person plural - may love
• *allēlous*: accusative, masculine, plural - one another

Word Meanings

• *erōtō*: ask/request/beseech
• *kyria*: lady/mistress (could be title or proper name)
• *entolēn*: commandment/order/charge
• *graphōn*: writing/recording
• *kainēn*: new/fresh/unprecedented
• *eichomen*: were having/possessing/holding
• *archēs*: beginning/origin/first cause
• *agapōmen*: may love/cherish/value highly
• *allēlous*: one another/each other

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I am writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And nowe beseche I the lady not as though I wrote a newe commaundement vnto the but that same which we had fro the begynninge that we shuld love one another.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And now lady I beseke the (not as though I wrote a new commaundement vnto the, but the same which we haue had from the begynnynge) that we loue one another.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And nowe beseeche I thee, Lady, (not as writing a newe commandement vnto thee, but that same which we had from the beginning) that we loue one another.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And nowe beseche I thee Lady, not as though I wrote a newe commaundement vnto thee: but that same which we haue had from the begynnyng, that we shoulde loue one another.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and now I beseech thee, Kyria, not as writing to thee a new command, but which we had from the beginning, that we may love one another,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And now, my sister, I make a request to you, not sending you a new law, but the law which we had from the first, that we have love for one another.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Warning Against False Teachers But now I ask you, lady(not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another.

Referenced Verses

• 1 John 3:11 : 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
• John 13:34-35 : 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
• John 15:12 : 12 This is my commandment: That you love one another, as I have loved you.
• Gal 5:22 : 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Eph 5:2 : 2 And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
• 1 Thess 4:9 : 9 But concerning brotherly love, you do not need that I write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
• Heb 13:1 : 1 Let brotherly love continue.
• 1 Pet 1:22-23 : 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
• 1 Pet 4:8 : 8 And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love will cover a multitude of sins.
• 2 Pet 1:7 : 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love.
• 1 John 2:7-8 : 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines.
• 1 John 3:14-18 : 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his compassion from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
• 1 John 3:23 : 23 And this is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
• 1 John 4:7-9 : 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.
• 1 John 4:20 : 20 If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?