The Epistle of 2 John

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

2 John is an epistle that the Apostle John wrote which is one of the two shortest New Testament books, 3 John being the second one. Each contains less than 300 words in the Greek text and could have fit on a single papyrus sheet. They both stress the importance and boundaries of loving in the truth. Each of these letters is a personal one to an individual.

 

There is some debate as to whether 2 John is a personal letter written by John to a Christian mother in Asia Minor or a corporate church gathering of Christians. The most natural interpretation is that this was written to a Christian lady who had believing children whom John had met before. Therefore I will share from this perspective. It was possible that this lady might have been a widow since her husband is not mentioned.

 

2 John 1-2

“The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth — and not I only, but also all who know the truth—because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:”

 

Here John identifies himself with apostolic authority who is wise in his years of living an obedient life in Christ. Very likely John has a personal connection or friendship with this lady and he addresses the woman in the letter as “Chosen.” This translates in the Greek as “elect” – “Chosen” – “Choice.” John here reflects the biblical truth that God sovereignly chooses believers for salvation. (Jesus also spoke of the elect in Matthew 24:22) John shares that he loves this woman and her children in a fatherly Christian way. As Christians we love fellow believers because we are all part of the same spiritual family. Because we have the same spiritual Father, Lord and Spirit we have a close tie to one another and love each other in an “agape” fashion. We can have no real communion with those who reject the truth of the gospel, since we share no common spiritual life with them. Such people are outside the fellowship of believers, because it is only those who “have in obedience to the truth” purified their souls, who can have a sincere love of the brethren.

 

1 Peter 1:22 “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”

 

Loving in the truth is only possible if you live in the truth as an obedient Believer. John again reiterates the fact that the truth lives in us and because of this it will be with us forever. The truth of God unites us, indwells us, blesses us and controls us as believers. John says that the truth lives in us or “abides” in us. This is a favorite term of John’s appearing more than 60 times in his writings.

 

2 John 3-4

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.”

 

Here John gives a friendly salutation to the woman he is writing to and a commendation of the fact that some of her children are walking in the faith. Walking in the truth is the mark of a true believer and evidently the life and witness of this woman to her children has caused them to commit their lives to Christ.

 

2 John 5

“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.”

 

In verse 5 we see John, as is his habit, repeat a command that is very important to him, to love one another. He shared this same precept in a similar fashion in 1 John 2:7-8. The basis for John’s thoughts, come from Deuteronomy 6:5 and are in accordance with the scripture passage in Matthew 22:37-40 as well. God is love and the first 5 commands of the Ten Commandments describe how to love God, the second 5 describe how to love others.

 

There are 3 ways in which the old commandment to love John mentions is new. First, love is truly expressed “in Jesus,” when one has a saving relationship with Christ. Secondly, we now have a new understanding of how to love by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And thirdly, the commandment to love is new in that it belongs to the new age brought about by Jesus Christ.

 

2 John 6

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

 

In verse 6 John tells us that we demonstrate our love for God and others if we walk in obedience to our Heavenly Father’s commands. When we respect God by obeying His Word we show how much we love Him. When we obey the command to love one another, we find numerous ways to forgive, encourage, intercede in prayer, minister to and support those we love.

 

2 John 7

“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

 

John has already discussed his concern for the false teachers and deceivers that are teaching false doctrine. The Greek word for “deceiver” here means “wanderer.” (See Jude 4:11-15 and 2 Peter 2:1-21)

 

In 1 John 4:1-3 he told us, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” One of the tests of truth and error is do people believe Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.

 

2 John 8

“Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.”

 

In the next few verses John expresses his concern that the godly woman he is writing to has possibly assisted or entertained false teachers in her home. John did not want false teachers to be housed in homes of Christians or encouraged in their false ministry because he was afraid of their influence and false doctrine. Such teaching could cause Christians to stray from the truth (wander) and thus follow in the footsteps of the Gnostic false teachers.

 

2 John 9

“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

 

Running ahead means running ahead of God by running ahead of scripture. This is when we begin to entertain ideas concerning Christian doctrine that are not in alignment with scripture. When John speaks of running ahead he means, “to go beyond established bounds of teaching or instruction with the implication of failure to obey properly.” We must continue in the solid established teaching of the New Testament. The false teachers were adding to scripture and going beyond what scripture taught and John did not want Christians following in their footsteps. Paul also instructed the Christians in Corinth in the same area.

 

1 Corinthians 4:6 “Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.”

 

2 John 10

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.”

 

The “if” with the indicative verb in this verse indicates that apparently this Christian woman had been entertaining false teachers in her home. Once false teachers gain a foothold in the homes of Christians then they can undermine the church itself. This is the tactic of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons today with their door-to-door evangelism. It is apparent that this Christian woman had allowed the false teachers into her home motivated by Christian love, but forgetting the danger she was placing both her and her children in, not to mention the local church as well.

 

2 John 11

“Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.”

 

John here goes so far as to say if you welcome false teachers into your home you share in their wicked evil work of false teaching. It is one thing to attempt to evangelize and confront those who teach lies and falsehood, it is quite another to encourage them by listening to their false doctrine and entertaining them in your home.

 

2 John 12-13

“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.”

 

John ends this epistle with his desire to talk face to face with this godly woman which shows his appreciation for personal contact with those under his care. Apparently John is also sending a greeting from this woman’s nieces and nephews.

 

It is amazing that we have in this short epistle a copy of a personal letter written from John to a fellow Christian. It gives us insight into his concern for others as well as his desire to show love by confronting fellow Christian about spiritual dangers that surround them and how they should live.