2Jo 2 | KingComments | STEP | The second and third letter of John are closely connected to his first letter and are as much inspired as the first. These are two brief letters. This may make them seem of lesser importance. He who thinks that, is very mistaken. They are of fundamental importance to us just as the first letter; we cannot do without these letters. Their spiritual power is not in firm language, but in the simple terms. As well as in his first letter and that is also typical for the gospel that he wrote) John does not use many words and also not difficult words. But that what he writes is very profound. In these two brief letters you do not get to hear any new truths. It’s about the same themes as in the first letter. Also here it is about truth and love , which both appear together in these two letters approximately ten times. But who will know the truth (the Lord Jesus is the truth) and the love (God is love) in their full extent? The more you ponder on it, the more you come to the conviction of their infinity. Nevertheless, in both letters John finds a way to bring truth and love that close, that you will recognize their value. Through these letters you get examples of how you in your faith life can live up to the teaching of the first letter. The two letters go hand in hand, they complement one another. The primary subject of the second letter is the false teachers, while the third letter is about the true workers of God. The second letter shows how you ought to deal with people who bring a false teaching. You must reject them, you should not even greet them. The third letter shows how your attitude ought to be toward people who bring the truth. You must receive them in all love, welcome them and help and support them in their work. The second letter deals with the danger that you do not expose the false teacher and have fellowship with him, even if only by a greeting. That danger is greater for women, and for this reason the second letter is addressed to a woman. Therefore, in case you are a sister, you ought not to leave the discernment of a false teacher to certain brothers. The opposite danger is that one of the third letter. That danger is that you do not recognize the teacher that comes with God’s truth and do not show him hospitality. That danger is greater for men, because hospitality is not something just of sisters. Generally, men are more selfish and less inclined to be hospitable. They also see competition much faster. It is not for nothing that they are exhorted to receive the true worker not with suspicion, but by welcoming and supporting him. The message of both letters is that you have to discern what a teacher preaches. You should not be misled in this to discern by the importance or impressiveness of the gift or an appointment or training or degrees. The only criterion is whether a person brings the truth or not. Briefly said, you are to reject those who do not bring the truth and receive those who do bring the truth. It is always necessary to test the teaching a person brings. If he brings the sound teaching, you should welcome him. A woman or man who possesses the Word, like for instance these letters, is able to judge his teaching and is also responsible to do that. Both letters are not addressed to believers in general, like the first letter, but to individual believers. Added to that the second letter is also addressed to children. They also are responsible to recognize and reject a false teaching. It is not about them to be able to analyze false teaching. The point is that they are able to discern the voice of the good Shepherd from the voice of the false shepherds. They should always be radical about that. The woman and the children are to know that they should not even greet a person who approaches them with a false teaching, not even out of politeness. They are to take a clear stand toward the evil and the false teaching. In this letter we will pay attention to what that false teaching is. There is no letter in the New Testament that explains more clearly how to deal with false teachers than this second letter of John. That surely underlines the significance of this letter. Division of the letter At the end of this introduction a division of the letter. It can be divided in different ways, but I find the following division the best and clearest: 1. Salutation of the apostle: grace, mercy, peace ( ). 2. Joy of the apostle: obedient children ( ). 3. Admonition of the apostle: walking in love ( ). 4. Care of the apostle: antichristian deceivers ( ). 5. Hope of the apostle: to meet each other soon ( ). . The author, John, presents himself, without mentioning his name, to the readers as “the elder”. That means that he is of a respectable age and writes this letter as an experienced believer. He does not write as an apostle, although he is an apostle. Herein you taste the heart of the shepherd who is worried about the sheep of the flock of the Lord Jesus. In this letter, which includes the warning to beware of the antichristian teaching, he addresses “the chosen lady and her children”. That is not without reason. A woman easily lets herself be deceived, as it already happened in paradise ( ). Sin entered the world because satan deceived Eve. Paul is talking about false teachers who approach women in particular ( ). Sect leaders often visit the households at daytime when husbands are regularly not at home. Children may also open the door. That is why they are also warned about the deceivers in this letter. John calls the lady “chosen”. How can he know that? Not because he has looked in the books of God, but because her life is an open book. Her life testifies that she is a believer and therefore a chosen one (cf. ). By addressing her with these words, he expresses his respect for her, without falling into flattery. It must have been encouraging for her and have made her happy. Doesn’t it make you happy if someone says that it can be seen in your life that you are a Christian? It is nothing to be proud of, but you may accept it in gratitude and as an encouragement from the Lord. It is not unthinkable that the chosen lady is a widow. No husband is being addressed or mentioned. If there was one it would have been impolite and discourteous to address her and ignore him. After all, the husband is the head of the family. It is also important to note that John carefully avoids the word ‘beloved’ in this letter. He uses this term in the first and the third letter. He does not do that here to exclude wrong thoughts about his relationship to her. He also addresses the children and makes them share in his love. His love for the lady and her children is a love “in truth”. To love in truth means that it is a truthful love, a love without unspiritual ulterior motives. It is a love which is being carried and surrounded by truth. “All who know the truth” share in his love toward her. To know the truth means to know God, just as He has revealed Himself in Christ. The Lord Jesus is the truth about and concerning God ( ). Also the Spirit is the truth ( ). Through the Spirit we learn to know the full truth of Who God is. He who knows the truth also loves the brethren, for they are also of the truth. . The love of John is not only truthful, in truth ( ), but his love is also “for the sake of the truth”. His love does not only express itself in acting truthfully, acting out of the truth, but it is at the same time an acting that testifies of the truth. That acting upholds the truth. The truth, John says to the lady and her children, abides in us. By that he indicates that Jesus Christ, Who is the truth, abides in you. He will also be with you forever. You have received Him as your life. John clearly showed that to you in his first letter. You will never ever lose that life. At the same time it is a life that is with you. Therefore you will always have Him as a Person, as the Object of your admiration, with you ( ; cf. ). Now read 2 John 1:1-2 again. Reflection: What is the issue of this letter? Why has it been written to a lady and her children?

‏ 2 John 2

Introduction

The second and third letter of John are closely connected to his first letter and are as much inspired as the first. These are two brief letters. This may make them seem of lesser importance. He who thinks that, is very mistaken. They are of fundamental importance to us just as the first letter; we cannot do without these letters. Their spiritual power is not in firm language, but in the simple terms. As well as in his first letter and that is also typical for the gospel that he wrote) John does not use many words and also not difficult words. But that what he writes is very profound.

In these two brief letters you do not get to hear any new truths. It’s about the same themes as in the first letter. Also here it is about truth and love, which both appear together in these two letters approximately ten times. But who will know the truth (the Lord Jesus is the truth) and the love (God is love) in their full extent? The more you ponder on it, the more you come to the conviction of their infinity. Nevertheless, in both letters John finds a way to bring truth and love that close, that you will recognize their value. Through these letters you get examples of how you in your faith life can live up to the teaching of the first letter.

The two letters go hand in hand, they complement one another. The primary subject of the second letter is the false teachers, while the third letter is about the true workers of God. The second letter shows how you ought to deal with people who bring a false teaching. You must reject them, you should not even greet them. The third letter shows how your attitude ought to be toward people who bring the truth. You must receive them in all love, welcome them and help and support them in their work.

The second letter deals with the danger that you do not expose the false teacher and have fellowship with him, even if only by a greeting. That danger is greater for women, and for this reason the second letter is addressed to a woman. Therefore, in case you are a sister, you ought not to leave the discernment of a false teacher to certain brothers.

The opposite danger is that one of the third letter. That danger is that you do not recognize the teacher that comes with God’s truth and do not show him hospitality. That danger is greater for men, because hospitality is not something just of sisters. Generally, men are more selfish and less inclined to be hospitable. They also see competition much faster. It is not for nothing that they are exhorted to receive the true worker not with suspicion, but by welcoming and supporting him.

The message of both letters is that you have to discern what a teacher preaches. You should not be misled in this to discern by the importance or impressiveness of the gift or an appointment or training or degrees. The only criterion is whether a person brings the truth or not. Briefly said, you are to reject those who do not bring the truth and receive those who do bring the truth. It is always necessary to test the teaching a person brings. If he brings the sound teaching, you should welcome him. A woman or man who possesses the Word, like for instance these letters, is able to judge his teaching and is also responsible to do that.

Both letters are not addressed to believers in general, like the first letter, but to individual believers. Added to that the second letter is also addressed to children. They also are responsible to recognize and reject a false teaching. It is not about them to be able to analyze false teaching. The point is that they are able to discern the voice of the good Shepherd from the voice of the false shepherds. They should always be radical about that.

The woman and the children are to know that they should not even greet a person who approaches them with a false teaching, not even out of politeness. They are to take a clear stand toward the evil and the false teaching. In this letter we will pay attention to what that false teaching is. There is no letter in the New Testament that explains more clearly how to deal with false teachers than this second letter of John. That surely underlines the significance of this letter.

Division of the letter

At the end of this introduction a division of the letter. It can be divided in different ways, but I find the following division the best and clearest:

1. Salutation of the apostle: grace, mercy, peace (2Jn 1:1-3).

2. Joy of the apostle: obedient children (2Jn 1:4).

3. Admonition of the apostle: walking in love (2Jn 1:5-6).

4. Care of the apostle: antichristian deceivers (2Jn 1:7-11).

5. Hope of the apostle: to meet each other soon (2Jn 1:12-13).

Sender and Recipients

2Jn 1:1. The author, John, presents himself, without mentioning his name, to the readers as “the elder”. That means that he is of a respectable age and writes this letter as an experienced believer. He does not write as an apostle, although he is an apostle. Herein you taste the heart of the shepherd who is worried about the sheep of the flock of the Lord Jesus.

In this letter, which includes the warning to beware of the antichristian teaching, he addresses “the chosen lady and her children”. That is not without reason. A woman easily lets herself be deceived, as it already happened in paradise (1Tim 2:14). Sin entered the world because satan deceived Eve. Paul is talking about false teachers who approach women in particular (2Tim 3:6-7). Sect leaders often visit the households at daytime when husbands are regularly not at home. Children may also open the door. That is why they are also warned about the deceivers in this letter.

John calls the lady “chosen”. How can he know that? Not because he has looked in the books of God, but because her life is an open book. Her life testifies that she is a believer and therefore a chosen one (cf. 1Thes 1:4-5). By addressing her with these words, he expresses his respect for her, without falling into flattery. It must have been encouraging for her and have made her happy. Doesn’t it make you happy if someone says that it can be seen in your life that you are a Christian? It is nothing to be proud of, but you may accept it in gratitude and as an encouragement from the Lord.

It is not unthinkable that the chosen lady is a widow. No husband is being addressed or mentioned. If there was one it would have been impolite and discourteous to address her and ignore him. After all, the husband is the head of the family. It is also important to note that John carefully avoids the word ‘beloved’ in this letter. He uses this term in the first and the third letter. He does not do that here to exclude wrong thoughts about his relationship to her. He also addresses the children and makes them share in his love.

His love for the lady and her children is a love “in truth”. To love in truth means that it is a truthful love, a love without unspiritual ulterior motives. It is a love which is being carried and surrounded by truth. “All who know the truth” share in his love toward her. To know the truth means to know God, just as He has revealed Himself in Christ. The Lord Jesus is the truth about and concerning God (Jn 14:6-10). Also the Spirit is the truth (1Jn 5:6). Through the Spirit we learn to know the full truth of Who God is. He who knows the truth also loves the brethren, for they are also of the truth.

2Jn 1:2. The love of John is not only truthful, in truth (2Jn 1:1), but his love is also “for the sake of the truth”. His love does not only express itself in acting truthfully, acting out of the truth, but it is at the same time an acting that testifies of the truth. That acting upholds the truth.

The truth, John says to the lady and her children, abides in us. By that he indicates that Jesus Christ, Who is the truth, abides in you. He will also be with you forever. You have received Him as your life. John clearly showed that to you in his first letter. You will never ever lose that life. At the same time it is a life that is with you. Therefore you will always have Him as a Person, as the Object of your admiration, with you (Mt 28:20; cf. Jn 14:16-17).

Now read 2 John 1:1-2 again.

Reflection: What is the issue of this letter? Why has it been written to a lady and her children?