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2Jn_1:11. Confirmation of the preceding prohibition.
ὁ λέγων γὰρ αὐτῷ χαίρειν ] The apostle mentions only this one thing, because what he says about it is self-evident in regard to the rest also.
κοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς πονηροῖς ] i.e. inasmuch as the χαίρειν λέγειν is not merely an outward display of politeness, but an expression of an intimate relation of fellowship.
By τὰ ἔργα τὰ πονηρά we are to understand, of course, the false doctrine, but, at the same time, along with this the whole evil character of the false teachers, which was very closely connected with their doctrine.[14]
[14] De Wette’s remark, justly rejected by Brückner, is utterly erroneous: “This prohibition finds its justification in polemic zeal, and the necessity for defence against what seemed fatal to the maintenance of the Church. We, with the sure foundation of the Christian Church, and in accordance with the higher view, then perhaps impossible, that man even in his errors still remains man, and an object of esteem and love, see in it impatience.”—Difficult though it may be under present circumstances, considering the development which doctrine has taken, in many particular cases rightly to apply what is here said by John, yet it must still be regarded as a valid maxim, not only that the Christian should remain conscious of the antithesis between anti-Christianity and Christianity, but also that he should not deny this consciousness in his conduct towards his neighbour.—Besser unjustifiably seeks to make use of the expression of the apostle as a weapon against union.