2 John

Overview

This short letter, written by the one who calls himself simply the elder, is addressed to the elect lady and her children, most likely a way of speaking to a local church and its members. John writes with warmth and joy, loving them in the truth along with all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in them and will be with them forever. From the opening lines the two great words of the letter appear together, truth and love, and John holds them inseparably throughout. Grace, mercy, and peace will be ours, he says, in truth and love.

John rejoices to have found some of the lady's children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded. Then he repeats the heart of his message, which is the old commandment they have had from the beginning, that they should love one another. This is no new demand but the very command of Christ. Love, for John, is defined by obedience: this is love, that we walk according to his commandments. Truth and love are not rivals but partners, for to love rightly is to walk in the truth, and to hold the truth is to be drawn into love.

Having grounded his readers in truth and love, John turns to a serious warning. Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. He urges his readers to watch themselves, so they do not lose what they have worked for but may win a full reward. Anyone who runs ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God, while the one who abides in that teaching has both the Father and the Son.

John then gives a sharp, practical instruction: if anyone comes bringing a different teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for to do so is to share in his wicked work. In a culture where traveling teachers depended on hospitality, this was a way of refusing to support and spread error. John ends the letter briefly, explaining that he has much to write but hopes to come and speak face to face, that their joy may be complete, and he closes with greetings from the children of her elect sister.

Context at a Glance

Author

The apostle John, who calls himself the elder

Written

c. AD 85-95, late in John's life at Ephesus

Genre

Personal letter (epistle)

Audience

The elect lady and her children, likely a local church and its members

Central theme

Walking in truth and love while guarding against deceivers

Key Verse

2 John 1:6 (WEB)

This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

John defines love not as mere sentiment but as obedience, that we walk according to God's commandments, binding love and truth inseparably together.

The Big Movements

• Greeting in truth and love (vv. 1-3) — The elder greets the elect lady and her children, loved in the truth, with grace, mercy, and peace.
• Walking in truth and love (vv. 4-6) — John rejoices that they walk in truth and repeats the command to love one another by keeping God's commandments.
• Warning against deceivers (vv. 7-9) — Many deceivers deny that Jesus came in the flesh; believers must watch themselves and abide in Christ's teaching.
• Refusing to aid error (vv. 10-11) — Those who bring false teaching are not to be welcomed or supported, lest one share in their wicked work.
• Closing hope (vv. 12-13) — John hopes to visit in person so their joy may be complete, and sends greetings from the sister church.

Key Figures

• John (the elder) — The apostle writing as a beloved spiritual father to guard a church in truth and love.
• The elect lady — The recipient of the letter, most likely a local church pictured as a lady, with her members as her children.
• The deceivers — False teachers who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and must not be aided or welcomed.

Pointing to Christ

2 John centers on the confession of Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, the very dividing line between truth and deception. To deny that the Son of God truly became man is the mark of the antichrist, while to abide in the teaching of Christ is to have both the Father and the Son. John shows that genuine love flows from this truth about Jesus, for the love he commands is itself the commandment of Christ heard from the beginning. To walk in the truth is to walk in step with the incarnate Son, and to remain in his teaching is to remain in God himself.

Big Lessons

• Truth and love belong together and must never be separated.
• Real love expresses itself in obedience to God's commands, not mere feeling.
• The confession that Jesus came in the flesh is essential to true faith.
• Believers must watch themselves so they do not lose their full reward.
• Welcoming and supporting false teachers can make us partners in their error.
• Guarding the truth is itself an act of love toward the church.