2 John 10-11 - Greeting vs. Welcome

[Joe Belisle]

2 John 10-11 reads,

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, for the one who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds."

"give him any greeting" is the literal translation, but it would seem to me that "welcome" would be more readable in English, making the verses read,

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not welcome him, for the one who welcomes him shares in his evil deeds."

Reading a few commentators, it seems like this would be an acceptable translation as they say it is not referring so much to a greeting in passing as it is a greeting of welcome which would be construed by the on-looking world as consent to their false teaching, and too would open up the flock to the influence of this false teacher that has been welcomed in.

Anybody know of any reason why it should be left as it is now instead of changing it to read "welcome"?

[Barry Smith]

χαίρειν
http://biblehub.com/greek/chairein_5463.htm

Looks like the Greek word has several meanings the word rejoice and greeting is being used in other passages.

Interesting how the words God speed and farewell are used also. All the translations English and Spanish are all over the place. Still need to research this more.

Most people would just shut the door :)

[Barry Smith]

Yeah after researching a little more turns out the word is used for both hello and good bye which in English the closest word would be something like salutation. Now in Spanish the word saludos or buenas or in Hindi namaste could be used because they are interchangeable. 

But probably the reason the word salutation was not used was because the word already appears in other places as ἀσπασμός so a different word was needed plus the literal word for χαίρω is Hail and it wasn't used either probably because it just doesn't sound right (Young's Literal Translation). 

Now i did find an English word that would fit and is not found elsewhere in scripture or in any translation the word asylum. The word meaning a place of safety and protection (χαίρω as sense of safe, with impunity). Also in order to "share in his evil deeds" you would need to "welcome him in"

Examples: 

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not offer him asylum, for the one who offers him asylum shares in his evil deeds."

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not welcome him in, for the one who welcomes him in shares in his evil deeds."

http://logeion.uchicago.edu/index.html#χαίρω

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/salutation

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=2Jo&c=1&t=YLT#s=1165010

Note: Now me personally would not use it but if i where trying to convey meanings then it would get the point across, but regardless Johns point to the Elect Lady is clear don't fellowship with Gnostics. What a contrast to Pauls attitude toward Gnostics 2Tim 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 

[Joe Belisle]

The "welcome him in" is similar to what I was thinking in terms of getting at the original intention while being more readable (given that I've never heard anyone speak of "giving someone a greeting" and in general, that would more bring to mind a verbal greeting in passing instead of actually accepting someone in).

The only thing I've been trying to think through with going with that sort of translation, since it isn't quite as word-for-word as I could go, is if there is any meaning lost by using that translation that would be maintained by sticking with the "give him a greeting" translation.