2 John 1:12 (DBY)

Passage

Having many things to write to you, I would not with paper and ink; but hope to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.

Nearby Context

2 John 1:10 If any one come to you and bring not this doctrine, do not receive him into [the] house, and greet him not;

2 John 1:11 for he who greets him partakes in his wicked works.

2 John 1:12 Having many things to write to you, I would not with paper and ink; but hope to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.

2 John 1:13 The children of thine elect sister greet thee.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "having", "things", "write", "paper", "hope", "come", "speak", and "mouth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "having" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "for he who greets him partakes in..." into verse 13's "The children of thine elect sister greet...", so "having" and "things" belong inside that flow. In 2 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "having" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.