2 John 1:6
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
2 JOHN 1:6
Here, John defines love as obedience to God’s commandments, repeating the opening truth that “this is love, that we walk after his commandments.” It ties love to a lifestyle committed to God’s revealed will, echoing Jesus’ words that love is shown through faithful obedience.
Love is inherently ethical. True religion is expressed in how one lives in accordance with God’s directives. The phrase “from the beginning” evokes the ongoing, enduring instruction that has always guided God’s people.
Practical steps:
- Review your priorities: do you live in obedience to God’s commandments in daily decisions?
- Teach and model obedience in homes and classrooms by giving clear, practical examples (honesty at work, generosity, purity of speech).
- Resist shortcut pressures that tempt you away from God’s standard, staying committed to the long arc of obedience.
Cross-References: John 14:15; 1 John 2:3–6; James 1:22; Matthew 7:24–27