2 John 1:11 (LSB)

Passage

for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Nearby Context

2 John 1:9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. The one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

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 give him a greeting,

2 John 1:11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

2 John 1:12 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.

2 John 1:13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "gives", "greeting", "participates", "evil", and "deeds". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "gives" and "greeting", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "If anyone comes to you and does..." into verse 12's "Though I have many things to write...", so "gives" and "greeting" 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 "gives" and "greeting" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.