a1:7
b1 Jn 4:2-3
c1:8
d1:9
e1:9
f1:10-11
gActs 2:46
h5:42
i8:3
j12:5
lCol 4:15
mPhlm 1:2

‏ 2 John 7-11

1:7  a many deceivers have gone out into the world: Docetists were denying that Jesus Christ came in a real body. John refuted this heresy in his first letter (see 1 Jn 4:2-3  b).

• A false teacher is a deceiver, because they mislead unwary believers, and an antichrist, because they distract and lead people away from the true Christ. By using the apocalyptic symbol of the antichrist, John signals the severity of the heresy and the ultimate judgment upon false teachers.
1:8  c we: This word refers to the apostles and their co-workers. The apostles taught the truth and defended it against heresies, and believers (referred to as you) are admonished to protect their faith from teaching that could destroy them (1:9  d).
1:9  e Anyone who wanders away from this teaching (literally everyone going beyond and not remaining in the teaching): To go beyond is to contradict the apostolic teachings about Jesus Christ and believe things about Jesus that were not taught by the apostles. This is a warning to the church not to listen to the false teachers.
Summary for 2John 1:10-11: 1:10-11  f Believers should not invite that person, who does not teach the truth about Christ, into their homes. The early churches met in homes (see Acts 2:46  g; 5:42  h; 8:3  i; 12:5  j, 12  k; Col 4:15  l; Phlm 1:2  m), so this could refer to inviting false teachers to a meeting of the church. It could also refer to giving any form of hospitality to false teachers, which would help their mission. The only way to deal with them was to not accept them into the fellowship.
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