2Jo-3Jo, Rev 1:1-3 | ESV | STEP | The elder to the elect lady and her children , whom I love in truth , and not only I , but also all who know the truth ,

Second John warns against the same false teaching mentioned in 1 John. This letter, however, was addressed to “the elect lady and her children” (perhaps a local congregation), and focused on Christian hospitality. False teachers were using the kindness of Christians to gain influence within John’s congregations. John’s letter spoke of this danger and warned against opening one’s home to these destroyers of the faith. While the basic themes of 1 John—holding fast to truth, love, and obedience—are evident, there is the additional focus on what Christian hospitality is all about. Only when you find agreement on sound doctrine will you find meaningful fellowship. The letter was probably written by the apostle John in the late first century a.d.

2 John

Greeting

1 ^aThe elder to the elect lady and her children, ^bwhom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who ^cknow ^dthe truth, 2 ^ebecause of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

3 ^fGrace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

Walking in Truth and Love

4 ^gI rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady— ^hnot as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning— ⁱthat we love one another. 6 And ^jthis is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just ^kas you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For ^lmany deceivers ^mhave gone out into the world, ⁿthose who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, ^oso that you may not lose what we ^{▼▼Some manuscripts you} have worked for, but ^qmay win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, ^rdoes not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching ^shas both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, ^tdo not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him ^utakes part in his wicked works.

Final Greetings

12 ^vThough I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. ^wInstead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, ^xso that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

Third John supplements statements on Christian hospitality in 2 John. It applauds a Christian named Gaius for living out the teachings of the apostles—he had welcomed traveling Christian missionaries into his home—while condemning Diotrephes, a selfish church leader who not only refused to help these itinerant, godly teachers but also had slandered and opposed those who disagreed with him. This book demonstrates that pride can divide Christians if they are not living by God’s Word. To avoid the dual dangers of false teaching and division within the church, believers should practice the dual virtues of love and discernment. The letter was probably written by the apostle John in the late first century a.d.

3 John

Greeting

1 ^yThe elder to the beloved Gaius, ^zwhom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For ^aaI rejoiced greatly when the brothers ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church; also verses 5, 10} came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that ^acmy children are walking in the truth.

Support and Opposition

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for ^adthese brothers, ^aestrangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner ^afworthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of ^agthe name, ^ahaccepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, ^aido not imitate evil but imitate good. ^ajWhoever does good is from God; ^akwhoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius ^alhas received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and ^amyou know that our testimony is true.

Final Greetings

13 ^anI had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, ^aoeach by name.

Revelation of John 1:1-3

Prologue

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God ^apgave him ^aqto show to his servants ^{▼▼Greek bondservants} the things that must soon take place. ^asHe made it known by sending his angel to his servant ^{▼▼Greek bondservant} John, 2 ^auwho bore witness to the word of God and to ^avthe testimony of Jesus Christ, even ^awto all that he saw. 3 ^axBlessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, ^ayfor the time is near.