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What does 2 John 1:6 mean?

And this is what love looks like: living the way God told us to. The command is to walk in love, just as you’ve heard from the start. 2 John 1:6 - Modern Text Bible

(He defines love as living according to God’s instructions, especially the call to love.)

Love is defined as living out what’s right—not just feeling affection or saying the right words. The verse says that real love means following the core command to love each other, and that’s how you know you’re actually living in love. The Greek word for command here is entolē, which means an instruction or an order, but it’s not about control—it’s about the direction your life takes. This challenges the idea that love is just a mood or a vague sense of goodwill. Instead, love is practical and active—it’s something you do, not just something you feel. In a world where love is often reduced to slogans or hashtags, this verse insists that love is about how you treat people, especially when it’s difficult. For someone searching for a love that’s real and reliable, this verse offers a simple but demanding answer: love is a way of life, not just a word.

Similar verses: 1 John 5:3, John 14:15, Matthew 22:37