Protestantism
English
I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:
Many things I had to write, but I do not wish through ink and pen to write to thee,
I had many things to write to thee, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee;
I haue many things to write: but I will not with yncke and pen write vnto thee:
I had many things to write, but I did not want to write to thee by pen and ink.
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write to you:
I had many things to write, but I will not communicate them to you with ink and pen.
I had much to say to you, but it is not my purpose to put it all down with ink and pen:
Conclusion
(2 John 1:12–13)
I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
I had many things to write; but I would not write to thee with ink and pen:
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee,
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
Conclusion and Final Greeting
I have many things to write to you, but I do not want to write to you by means of ink and pen.
I had many things to write, but I do not desire to write by means of pen and ink.
I had many things to write, but I will not write to you with pen and ink,
I had many things to write to you1, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;
- NU Vg. M TR omit "to you"
I had many things to write to you1, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;
- NU Vg. M TR omit "to you"
I had many things to write to you1, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;
- NU Vg. M TR omit "to you"
I had many things to write to thee, but I do not wish to write to thee with ink and pen;
I have a great deal to say to you, but I do not care to trust it to pen and ink in a letter.
I have a great deal to say to you, but I do not care to trust it to pen and ink in a letter.
Many things, had I to write unto thee,—but I am unwilling, with ink and pen, to be writing;
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write to thee:
I have a great deal to say to you, but I do not care to trust it to pen and ink in a letter.
Catholicism
English
I had many things to write unto thee: but I would not by ink and pen write to thee.
I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing, through ink and pen, to write to you.1
- 1:13It seems to me that John is not willing to trust everything to writing because there are troublemakers within the Church he is writing to, who might distort what he is saying, or who might not deliver it. Letters in past times were often hand delivered by some trusted person who was traveling to the same place. John seems to lack the ability to send someone who would be widely accepted to that Church.(Conte)