2 John 1:3

ἔσται μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη παρὰ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ παρὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγάπῃ.

Translation:

³ Grace, mercy and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

Commentary:

ἔσται is the 3^rd person singular future middle indicative verb of εἰμί meaning “I am”. It is interesting to note that the verb constitutes three different characteristics or attributes of God yet is written in the singular form. This is intriguing because any numerical value above the number one is generally represented as being plural [i.e. singular vs. plural]. However, this may reveal that, for believers in Christ, we are not receiving God or His truth in bits and pieces, but rather in one lump sum.

Therefore, these are not three separate gifts having no relation to each other but are representative of the whole package. John is encapsulating what will forever remain in our possession [i.e. God’s truth]. I was explaining this to my wife and she reminded me of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is comprised of nine characteristics [at least, nine that are listed] and yet it is still one singular fruit. Paul’s illustration of the “fruit” in Galatians is likened to John’s use of the Greek verb here in this passage.

There are three prepositional phrases listed in this verse. The first is ἔσται μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη. The reality and effects of this truth will [future tense] forever remain with us as believers in Christ. The second prepositional phrase is παρὰ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ παρὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ πατρὸς which is be discussed further in the next two paragraphs. The third is ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγάπῃ which tells us these gifts are not only truly ours, but they have also been given to us out of God’s extravagant love.

χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη are three nouns which, when translated, mean “grace, mercy and peace”. παρὰ is the preposition “from” which reveals both the ownership and source of the three nouns. They are from both God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. παρὰ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ παρὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ πατρὸς is the prepositional phrase which includes two of the three members of the Trinity.

How often do we tend to view God in parts? I feel that many times we see the Father as the strict Judge and the Son standing between us and Him shielding us from the Father’s wrath. Is this correct theology? Well, to be honest, no. This verse is showing us that both the Father and His Son are on our side. Grace, mercy and peace are given to us from the fullness of the Godhead. This is good news for us who are in Christ.

*Continue on with 2 John 1:4