What Does 2 John 1:3 Mean in the King James?

Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

2 John 1:3 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

What reaches you from the Father and the Son is a single, intertwined gift: favor that opens toward joy, mercy, and wholeness, carried in truth and love.

THE MEANING

You are met with favor, mercy, and wholeness from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They come to you in truth and love, as a gift rather than a reward for what you have achieved.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that you must earn God’s favor before you can receive mercy and wholeness.

THE ROOT

χάρις

charis

GROWS FROM

χαίρω

chairō

to rejoice, be glad

“grace” in this verse is charis. The Greek word ⁨χάρις⁩ belongs to the word family of ⁨χαίρω⁩, to rejoice, and ⁨χαρά⁩, joy. Favor here carries a nearness to gladness, while the related verb ⁨χαρίζομαι⁩ shows favor as something freely granted; this gift comes together with mercy, wholeness, truth, and love.

ALSO GROWS

chara: joy, gladness

χαρά

This related word keeps favor and joy close in the language, opening grace toward gladness.

charizomai: to grant freely, show favor, forgive

χαρίζομαι

This verb expresses the word family’s favor as a freely granted gift, as ⁨χάρις⁩ is in this blessing.

THE PATTERN

God’s favor and wholeness come as a gift held together with mercy, truth, and love.

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psalm 85:10 · KJVMercy, truth, and peace meet together, showing wholeness as part of a joined gift.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 · KJVGrace and truth appear together in the presence of the Son, as they do in this blessing.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Titus 3:5 · KJVMercy comes as God’s gift rather than as a payment for human achievement.

THE THREAD

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 · KJV

John uses the same Greek word, ⁨χάρις⁩ (charis, favor), alongside truth. That pairing opens this blessing further: favor is not detached from truth, and both are present in the Son.

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