2 John — Truth and Love
Introduction: In this letter, John referred to himself only as the elder, and there is no detail herein or elsewhere in scripture to give us the identity of the woman he addressed in his opening. This letter of approximately 300 words in English is one of the two shortest writings in the New Testament. This letter does not contain biographical or geographical information, but there are essentials of faith recorded that are just as precious to keep in the heart today as they were when John wrote them.
Note: Scripture passages are from the World English Bible.
A — Love in Truth Brings Grace, Mercy, and Peace
“2 John 1:1-3 The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who know the truth; for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
B — Walking in Truth
“2 John 1:4-6 I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father. Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 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.”
Comments: John does not state how he found some of the “children” walking in truth, but it may have been through personal contact, and he said he rejoiced greatly about them. This woman apparently had a very strong witness before others. The term children may well be used to describe the strong example represented to others by this lady, and not that they were her physical offspring. John did not say all of her children, for only those who fully accept the truth as commanded by God the Father in love are kept in truth and love.
C — Beware of the Deceivers Who Are Antichrists
“2 John 1:7-9 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist. Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.”
Comments: John opened his letter expressing his love for those who held fast to the truth, but he also wanted to be sure that the believers be continually on guard against those who could bring deceptive teaching in among them. He did not want them to tolerate any teaching that was antichrist, and not even to give a welcome to those who hold such beliefs. The error of teaching that Christ did not come in the flesh is so grievous that it must be clearly and completely rejected.
There is ample evidence in scripture that Christ Jesus came in flesh, and as the way, the truth, and the life. Those who do not have God the Son, also do not have God the Father. The Apostle John closed his first letter with a very forthright statement that Jesus is God. 1 John “5:20-21 We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
D — Greater Joy Is Found When Saints Gather Together
“2 John 1:10-13 If there come any to you and bring not this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t greet him: for he who greets him participates in his evil works. Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full. The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.”
Comments: When distance separates those who share a close affection for each other, even the most effective means of communication cannot surpass the joy of being together in person. Though we do not know where either John or this lady resided at the time of the writing, he did desire to go to where she was located to share much more than he had written in this letter. John expressed a desire for personal fellowship that would bring full joy to their meeting.
John closed his letter with the mention of the children of a “chosen” sister who send their greeting to the other group of believers. No names are used, but we do know by John’s designation that the sister mentioned is chosen as are all who belong to God. This is such an important part of the truth of God’s love in that he chose us by his grace. Ephesians “2:4-9 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.”
Reflections in Prayer
I thank you, LORD, that you have opened my heart to the truth of your Word which will be with me forever and which gives me your grace, mercy, and peace because of Christ Jesus. Keep in the forefront of my mind my need to walk in love for my God and for my fellow Christians as you have commanded, and as you have provided your enablement through your Spirit within me. I want to be ever watchful for any manifestation of antichrist teaching even in the most subtle form. I want to be completely separated from such teaching, and nurture only the truth about God the Father and God the Son in myself and in other Christians. Help me, LORD, to experience the joy that should be part of any gathering of Christians who are bound together by truth and love. I praise you, my God, that you have chosen me to be your child! Amen.
Published 15 November 2014
Comments: John opened his letter to this group of believers without using any names as he addressed the chosen or elect lady and referred to the others as her children. When John wrote about his love, he was expressing his esteem, goodwill, and endearment for them because of their mutual belief and trust in the truth of the Word of God and in the Lord Jesus Christ. The written Word and the Living Word, Christ, provide the basis for all truth that sets apart the chosen of God from the perishing world, and guarantees eternal life for them with God the Father and his Son Christ Jesus.
Love cannot have lasting value unless it is founded in truth. Jesus declared to Thomas and the other disciples in the upper room that he is the very embodiment of truth. John “14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” When Jesus was in Roman custody and his death on the cross was imminent, he did not emphasize his ultimate authority as king of kings, in his answer to the question from Pilate. What he said cannot be understood by anyone who rejects Jesus as God the Son. John “18:37 Pilate therefore said to him, ‘Are you a king then?’ Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”