2 John 1 in the early church

45 passages quote, allude to, or echo 2 John 1, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12

2 John 1 as a whole

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1	Lines 61–70 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	late 2nd or 4th century (disputed)
2 John 1	Canon 60 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 343–381
2 John 1	Canon 47 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	397

2 John 1:1

The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1:1	Church History 7.25.11 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 300–325
2 John 1:1	Demonstration of the Gospel 3.5.88 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 314–324
2 John 1:1	Letter 123.11 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
2 John 1:1	Letter 146.1 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
2 John 1:1	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.60.2 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-397
2 John 1:1	On Illustrious Men 9 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	392–393

2 John 1:4

I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1:4–11	On Not Agreeing with Heretics 13 · Lucifer of Cagliari	quotation, high confidence	ca. 356–361

2 John 1:5

And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1:5	Liber Orsiesii 54 · Orsiesius	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 380-390
2 John 1:5	On Grace and Free Will 17 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1:7	To the Smyrnaeans 5.2 · Ignatius of Antioch	echo, medium confidence	ca. 110 (range ca. 105–135)
2 John 1:7	To the Philippians 7.1 · Polycarp of Smyrna	allusion, high confidence	ca. 110–135
2 John 1:7–8	Against Heresies 3.16.8 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
2 John 1:7	On the Flesh of Christ 24 · Tertullian	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 206–211
2 John 1:7	Against Marcion 3.8 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
2 John 1:7	Homilies on Exodus 3.2 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
2 John 1:7	On Not Agreeing with Heretics 14 · Lucifer of Cagliari	allusion, high confidence	ca. 356–361
2 John 1:7	Commentary on Romans 12:18 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 John 1:7	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 24.9.5 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, medium confidence	374-377
2 John 1:7	Eleven Tractates 1.6 · Priscillian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380–385
2 John 1:7	Eleven Tractates 1.37 · Priscillian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 380–385
2 John 1:7	Against Faustus the Manichaean 5.4 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 398–400

2 John 1:9

Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1:9	On Not Agreeing with Heretics 14 · Lucifer of Cagliari	quotation, high confidence	ca. 356–361

2 John 1:10

If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1:10–11	Against Heresies 1.16.3 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
2 John 1:10	Prescription against Heretics 12 · Tertullian	allusion, low confidence	ca. 203
2 John 1:10–11	Opinions of the Bishops 81 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	1 September 256
2 John 1:10	Letter 2.4 · Alexander of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	ca. 319–324
2 John 1:10	To the Bishops of Egypt 4 · Athanasius of Alexandria	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 356
2 John 1:10	Letters 8 · Lucifer of Cagliari	allusion, high confidence	ca. 356–361
2 John 1:10	On Not Agreeing with Heretics 14 · Lucifer of Cagliari	allusion, high confidence	ca. 356–361
2 John 1:10–11	Against Parmenian the Donatist 4.5 · Optatus of Milevis	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–385
2 John 1:10	Commentary on Romans 12:18 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 366–384
2 John 1:10	Letter 89.2 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
2 John 1:10	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 26.15.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
2 John 1:10–11	On Baptism, against the Donatists 7.88 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 John 1:10	On Baptism, against the Donatists 7.89 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401
2 John 1:10–11	Commentary on Jeremiah 3.61 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 414-419
2 John 1:10	Commonitory 24 · Vincent of Lérins	quotation, high confidence	434

2 John 1:11

Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1:11	Letter 2.4 · Alexander of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	ca. 319–324
2 John 1:11	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 34.13.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
2 John 1:11	Commonitory 24 · Vincent of Lérins	quotation, high confidence	434

2 John 1:12

I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
2 John 1:12	Against Heresies 3.4.2 · Irenaeus of Lyons	echo, low confidence	ca. 180–190
2 John 1:12	Ancoratus 117.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, medium confidence	374