2 John 1:12
ESV
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
NIV
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
NASB
Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made complete.
CSB
Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.
NLT
I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.
KJV
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
NKJV
Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
What does 2 John 1:12 mean?
Verses 12 and 13 conclude the letter of 2 John. John was a prolific writer (3 John 1:13). He composed the gospel of John, the letters of 1, 2, and 3 John, and the book of Revelation. Altogether, the apostle John authored 50 of the New Testament's 260 chapters. He certainly could have written a longer letter. This, however, is not his purpose in this message.Despite his writing talent, John prefers personal contact. He uses a Greek phrase almost always translated as "face to face." The phrasing is stoma pro stoma, which literally means "mouth to mouth." The idea is two people directly communicating without any barriers or distance. It means to speak in person, directly. Personal visits have a different importance, and a different feel, to distance communication. This is still true even after development of new technologies. Having the opportunity to meet face-to-face would make John extremely happy.
