2 John 1:11
ESV
for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
NIV
Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
NASB
for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
CSB
for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.
NLT
Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.
KJV
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
NKJV
for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
What does 2 John 1:11 mean?
This verse concludes the main body of the letter and John's warnings against false teachers in verses 7–11. John's comment is both direct and powerful. A person who shows hospitality to false teachers "takes part," or "shares," in that sin. In the context of this culture, John has in mind a person who accepts a false teacher into his or her home. This does not mean in a modern, literal sense that a believer cannot say, "hello" or "good morning" to a false teacher. The idea is to avoid anything that even slightly supports a false teacher's work.John's desire was for believers to walk "in the truth" (2 John 1:4), not to share in wicked work or evil. This means more than simply not doing evil ourselves. As believers, we are also called on to avoid supporting those who teach some other, false gospel (Galatians 1:8). Being polite and loving does necessarily mean advocating or defending. We are not to confuse civility with promoting those who preach a dangerous and phony message.
Second John 1:7–11 discusses a certain type of false teacher. Those who deny that Jesus came to earth in a real, physical, human form are not teaching the truth. According to John, these people are not to be supported in any way whatsoever. Those who help a false teacher are participating in their sin.
The entire book of 2 John is only 13 verses long. It is written by ''the elder,'' in this case the disciple John. In it, John commends a group of believers for holding fast to the truth of the gospel. He also warns these people to avoid those who deny aspects of the Christian faith, and who deceive people away from the truth. John uses the term ''elect lady and her children'' as a reference to this entire local church.
