Bible Verses

2 John · Chapter 1 · Love

2 John 1:6 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Love is the centre of Scripture's story. Read this one slowly.

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Read in chapter context · 2 John 1

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"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."

KJV · King James Version

"And2532 this3778 is2076 love26, that2443 we walk4043 after2596 his846 commandments1785. This3778 is2076 the commandment1785, That2443, as2531 ye have heard191 from575 the beginning746, ye should walk4043 in1722 it846."

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses and, after, have, while the WEB renders these as according, even, you. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

2 John 1:6 in 2 John 1

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is 2 John 1:6 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of 2 John 1. Read the full chapter →

  1. v.4 I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
  2. v.5 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.
  3. v.6 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.
  4. v.7 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.
  5. v.8 Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.

Book background

About the Book of 2 John

Testament
New Testament
Genre
General epistle
Author
John the apostle
Date written
c. 85–95 AD
Audience
"The elect lady and her children" — likely a specific house church
Chapters
1

2 John is a brief postcard urging a house church to walk in truth and love — and warning them not to extend hospitality to teachers who deny Christ's incarnation. It captures the apostolic balance: receive sound teachers, refuse heretics.

Setting: A 13-verse personal letter.

Key themes: truth · love · discernment · hospitality · false teachers

Read 2 John from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise 2 John 1:6

2 John 1:6 contains 28 words in 5 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

  1. 1

    This is love

    TIL

  2. 2

    that we should walk according to his commandments

    TWSWAT

  3. 3

    This is the commandment

    TITC

  4. 4

    even as you heard from the beginning

    EAYHFT

  5. 5

    that you should walk in it.

    TYSWII

Frequently asked

FAQ about 2 John 1:6

What does 2 John 1:6 say?

2 John 1:6 reads: "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." — from the New Testament, 2 John (General epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is 2 John 1:6 in?

2 John 1:6 is in the book of 2 John, traditionally attributed to John the apostle and written around c. 85–95 AD. 2 John is general epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to "The elect lady and her children" — likely a specific house church. Best known for walking in truth and love.

What is 2 John 1:6 about?

2 John 1:6 is primarily a Bible verse about Love. Within 2 John, 2 John is a brief postcard urging a house church to walk in truth and love — and warning them not to extend hospitality to teachers who deny Christ's incarnation. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between 2 John 1:6 in WEB and KJV?

2 John 1:6 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "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.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "And2532 this3778 is2076 love26, that2443 we walk4043 after2596 his846 commandments1785. This3778 is2076 the commandment1785, That2443, as2531 ye have heard191 from575 the beginning746, ye should walk4043 in1722 it846.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is 2 John 1:6?

2 John 1:6 is 28 words in the WEB translation (155 characters), broken into 5 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 8 seconds.

How can I memorise 2 John 1:6?

To memorise 2 John 1:6, split it into its 5 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does 2 John 1:6 matter in 2 John?

2 John is a brief postcard urging a house church to walk in truth and love — and warning them not to extend hospitality to teachers who deny Christ's incarnation. It captures the apostolic balance: receive sound teachers, refuse heretics. 2 John 1:6 sits within this larger story — 2 John as a whole emphasises truth, love, discernment.

How can I apply 2 John 1:6 today?

Many readers use 2 John 1:6 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download 2 John 1:6 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.