2 John

Part One: Introduction to 2 John

The Book

2 John is the second shortest book in the Bible: thirteen verses, short enough to fit on a single sheet of papyrus. It is a personal letter, yet it carries a vital message for every church: love must walk hand in hand with truth, and believers must not give support to those who deny Christ.

The Author

"The elder unto the elect lady and her children" (v1). The writer calls himself simply "the elder," a title that suggests both old age and recognised authority; he needed no other introduction. Early tradition identifies him as the apostle John, who in his old age oversaw the churches around Ephesus. (The early writer Papias mentions a "John the elder," and some have suggested a different John, but the language and themes of 2 John match 1 John and the Gospel of John so closely that the traditional view remains the most likely.) It was probably written from Ephesus around AD 85-95, about the same time as 1 John.

The Recipient: "The Elect Lady"

Two views are held about "the elect lady and her children":

Either way, the message applies to every believer and every church.

The Situation

In the early church, travelling preachers moved from place to place, relying on believers for food and lodging. This hospitality helped the gospel spread, but false teachers used it too. The same deceivers who had left the churches in 1 John, denying that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, were travelling and seeking support. John wrote to warn the elect lady not to welcome them.

Purpose and Theme

2 John teaches that truth and love belong together. The word "truth" appears five times in the first four verses, and "love" four times in the letter. Love must be exercised within the bounds of truth: believers must love one another, but they must not show hospitality that supports false teachers.

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

2 John 4

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

2 John 9

John's Three Letters Compared

Outline of 2 John

Part Two: Verse-by-Verse Analysis

Section I: Greeting — Love in the Truth (Verses 1-3)

The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

2 John 1-2

"Elect" means chosen by God. John loved her "in the truth": their love was grounded in their shared knowledge of the truth of the gospel, and it was shared by all who knew the truth. Truth is not merely a set of facts; it "dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever." Christ is the truth (John 14:6), and the Spirit of truth abides in believers for ever (John 14:16-17).

Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

2 John 3

John's greeting is a confident statement, not just a wish: grace (God's undeserved favour), mercy (His compassion on our misery) and peace (wholeness with God) "shall be" with them. They come equally from the Father and from "the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father," affirming the full deity and unique Sonship that the false teachers denied. And they come "in truth and love," the two themes of the letter.

Section II: Walk in Truth and Love (Verses 4-6)

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

2 John 4

John rejoiced to find some of her children walking in truth: living consistently with the gospel they believed. Walking in truth is not optional; it is "a commandment from the Father." (The words "of thy children" may imply that not all of them were.)

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

2 John 5-6

The command to love one another is not new; it goes back to the beginning of the gospel (John 13:34; 1 John 2:7-8). And love is defined by obedience: "this is love, that we walk after his commandments." Love is not mere feeling; it is shown by living God's way. Truth and love form a circle: love obeys God's commands, and one of His commands is to love.

Section III: Beware of Deceivers (Verses 7-11)

Verse 7 — The Deceivers

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

2 John 7

The reason for walking carefully in truth: many deceivers have gone out into the world. Their error concerns the person of Christ: they do not confess "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" (literally "coming in the flesh," pointing to the incarnation as an abiding fact: He took human nature permanently). Such a person is "a deceiver and an antichrist," opposing the true Christ and seeking to replace Him (1 John 2:22; 4:2-3).

Verse 8 — Guard Your Reward

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

2 John 8

Believers must be on guard. If they were drawn into false teaching, the work the apostles had done among them would be undermined, and they would lose part of their reward. This refers to rewards for faithful service, not to salvation itself (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). John wants them to receive a "full reward."

Verse 9 — Abiding in the Doctrine of Christ

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

2 John 9

"Transgresseth" means going beyond the limits (some manuscripts use a word meaning "runs ahead"). The false teachers claimed to be advanced and progressive, going beyond the simple apostolic teaching about Christ. But going beyond the doctrine of Christ means leaving God behind. "The doctrine of Christ" is the teaching about Christ (His person and work) that the apostles taught and that Christ Himself taught. Whoever continues in it has both the Father and the Son; whoever abandons it "hath not God." There is no way to know the Father except through the Son as revealed in Scripture (John 14:6; 1 John 2:23).

Verses 10-11 — Do Not Support False Teachers

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

2 John 10-11

This instruction is about travelling teachers who came seeking lodging and support for their ministry. If such a person did not bring the true doctrine of Christ, believers must not take him into their home (or their house church) or "bid him God speed" (give him a greeting of approval and blessing, wishing him success). To do so would be to share in his evil work, helping him spread soul-destroying error.

This does not forbid ordinary kindness to unbelievers or evangelising people who are confused about Christ; believers are to love even their enemies (Matthew 5:44) and do good to all (Galatians 6:10). It forbids giving support, endorsement and a platform to those who actively teach false doctrine about Christ (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:10). Love never requires believers to help spread lies about the Saviour.

Section IV: Closing (Verses 12-13)

Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

2 John 12

John preferred to speak in person rather than write at length. Face-to-face fellowship brings joy to completion (1 John 1:4).

The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

2 John 13

Greetings come from the children of her "elect sister," either the believing nieces and nephews of the elect lady, or the members of John's own church sending greetings to a sister church.

Part Three: Christ in 2 John

2 John guards the truth about Christ: He is the eternal Son of the Father, who truly became man. Any teaching that denies either His deity or His real humanity is the spirit of antichrist. To have the Son is to have the Father; to abandon the Son is to lose God.

Truth and Love in Balance

Part Four: Prophecies Fulfilled

Part Five: Key Passages in Depth

2 John 1-3 — Love in the Truth

Christian love is grounded in shared truth, the truth that lives in believers and stays with them for ever. Grace, mercy and peace come from the Father and the Son in truth and love.

2 John 4-6 — Walking in Truth and Love

God commands believers to walk in truth, and love is defined as walking according to His commandments.

2 John 7-9 — Abiding in the Doctrine of Christ

Deceivers deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Believers must guard themselves to receive a full reward, and must continue in the apostolic teaching about Christ, without which no one has God.

2 John 10-11 — No Support for False Teachers

Believers must not welcome, house or bless those who bring false doctrine about Christ, lest they share in their evil deeds.

Part Six: The Major Teachings of 2 John

1. The Unity of Truth and Love

Love is exercised in the truth; truth is lived out in love (1, 3-6).

2. The Permanence of the Truth

The truth dwells in believers and will be with them for ever (2).

3. The Deity and Humanity of Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of the Father, come in the flesh (3, 7).

4. Love as Obedience

Love is walking after God's commandments (6).

5. The Danger of Deceivers

Many deceivers and antichrists deny Christ (7).

6. Rewards

Believers can lose or receive a full reward (8).

7. Abiding in Sound Doctrine

Going beyond the doctrine of Christ means losing God (9).

8. Biblical Separation

Believers must not support or endorse false teachers (10-11).

9. Christian Fellowship

Face-to-face fellowship makes joy full (12).

Part Seven: Connections — How 2 John Links to the Rest of the Bible

Part Eight: Practical Lessons

• Let your love be grounded in the truth (1).
• Rejoice that the truth lives in you for ever (2).
• Rejoice when you see others walking in truth (4).
• Walk in the truth, not just believe it (4).
• Love one another; it is the original command (5).
• Show love by obeying God's commandments (6).
• Be alert to deceivers who deny the true Christ (7).
• Guard your spiritual work and reward (8).
• Don't "go beyond" the doctrine of Christ in the name of progress (9).
• Never give support or a platform to false teachers (10-11).
• Remain kind to all, while refusing to endorse error (10-11).
• Value face-to-face fellowship (12).

Part Nine: Key Verses to Memorize

Conclusion

2 John is a short letter from the aged apostle to an elect lady and her children, whether a Christian family or a local church. John loved them in the truth, the truth that lives in every believer and will remain for ever, and he rejoiced to find some of them walking in it. He reminded them of the command they had from the beginning, to love one another, and defined love as walking according to God's commandments. But love must be exercised within the truth. Many deceivers had gone out, denying that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, the spirit of antichrist. Believers must guard themselves, lest they lose their full reward, and must abide in the doctrine of Christ, because whoever goes beyond it has not God, while whoever abides in it has both the Father and the Son. Therefore they must not receive false teachers into their homes or bid them God speed, lest they share in their evil deeds. Truth without love becomes harsh; love without truth becomes deceived; 2 John calls believers to walk in both.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

2 John 9