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2Jn_1:4. The Epistle begins with the assurance of joy at the conduct of those to whom it is addressed. The preface to most of the Pauline Epistles is similar. This verse refers back to the preceding ἐν ἀληθείᾳ ; 2Jn_1:5, on the other hand, to ἐν ἀγάπῃ .
ἐχάρην λίαν ] not: “I have greatly rejoiced” (Luther); the aorist is to be kept in its own meaning. The apostle is speaking historically of the time at which he had the experience which he states in the following words.
ὅτι εὕρηκα ἐκ τῶν τέκνων σου περιπατοῦντας ἐν ἀληθείᾳ ] ἐκ τῶν τέκν . is not = τὰ τέκνα σου ; it is indicated by the ἐκ that John could not boast the περιπατεῖν ἐν ἀλ . of all,[8] but not that “he had not become acquainted with all” (Düsterdieck). Braune’s observation is erroneous, that “as the article is wanting with περιπατοῦντας , it is not indicated that the other children were not walking ἘΝ ἈΛ .” With ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕῖΝ ἘΝ , comp. Joh_8:12; 1Jn_1:6-7; 3Jn_1:3-4, and several other passages.
ΕὝΡΗΚΑ indicates a previous meeting with the children of the ΚΥΡΊΑ —and hence a previous sojourn of the apostle in the Church to which he is writing; incorrectly, Sander: “I have found as the result of my examination;” the preterite ἘΧΆΡΗΝ does not suit this interpretation.
If ΚΥΡΊΑ be a proper noun, it remains uncertain where the apostle met with her children. Lücke, on account of 2Jn_1:12, considers it unlikely that the apostle had been in the family; “he seems to have met the ΤΈΚΝΑ somewhere else without the mother” (so also Braune). Not only this uncertainty, but also the circumstance that John does not express himself further about the children who are not walking in the truth, indicates that he is not speaking of a family, but of a Church, which is erroneously disputed by Braune.
ΚΑΘῺς ἘΝΤΟΛῊΝ ἘΛΆΒΟΜΕΝ ] ΚΑΘΏς (which is not to be taken here, with Ebrard, argumentatively = “because indeed”) does not more particularly define the ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕῖΝ in itself, as if ἘΝ ἈΛΗΘΕΊᾼ were only added adverbially for confirmation = “who in truth walk as,” etc.; but ΚΑΘΏς refers to the ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕῖΝ ἘΝ ἈΛΗΘ ., and ἈΛΉΘΕΙΑ is Christian truth, as in 2Jn_1:3; thus: “who are walking in the truth, according as we received commandment” (Düsterdieck). By this, however, we are not to understand one particular commandment, but the obligation which is contained in the Christian faith to walk in the truth; παρὰ τοῦ πατρός ] see 2Jn_1:3; the intervention of the Son is implied.
[8] Ebrard appropriately: “It is a delicate way in which the presbyter covers the blame which he has to express in a mere limitation of praise.”