2 John 1:2

1:2 because of the truth ¹  that resides in us and will be with us forever.

2 John 1:12

Conclusion

1:12 Though I have many other ²  things to write to you, I do not want to do so with ³  paper and ink, ⁴  but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, ⁵  so that our joy may be complete. ⁶ 

¹ tc The prepositional phrase that begins v. 2, διὰ τὴν ἀλήθειαν (dia thn alhqeian, “because of the truth”), is missing in a number of significant mss, among them Ψ 614 1241 1505 1739 al. However, it looks to be a simple case of homoioteleuton, for v. 1 ends with τὴν ἀλήθειαν. For some of these mss it could be an intentional omission, for the sense of the passage is largely the same without the prepositional phrase (the following adjectival participle, in this case, would simply attach itself to the previous τὴν ἀλήθειαν). The phrase could thus have been viewed as redundant and for this reason expunged from the text.

² tn “Other” is not in the Greek text but is supplied for clarity in English.

³ tn Grk “by means of.”

⁴ sn Presumably the author means he would rather say the additional things he wants to say to the recipients in person rather than by letter (with paper and ink).

⁵ tn Grk “speak mouth to mouth,” an idiom for which the English equivalent is “speak face to face.”

⁶ tn Grk “be fulfilled.”