2 John 1:10. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not greet him.
2 John 1:11. For he who greets him participates in his evil deeds.
2 John 1:12. I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to do so on paper with ink; rather, I hope to come to you and speak mouth to mouth, that your joy may be full.
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? But if we greet the impious—something that is fitting only toward those of the same character and the same faith—then by this we show that we are in communion with them, and that they have already drawn us into their impiety. As the reason why the present epistle and the one following it are composed briefly, the apostle gives the fact that he hopes to come himself and in a personal meeting to supply what is lacking.
2 John 1:13. The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
Some, on the basis of these words, think to affirm that this epistle was written not to a woman, but to the Church. With him who thinks so, I do not at all argue.
The end of the second epistle of the Apostle John.