2 John
2 John1, 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;
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.”
This book is the only letter, written in the New Testament which is to a woman. Most believe it is addressed to her, to show the Lord’s value of a servant whose ministry may not be out in front of others….but who, none the less, has been a notable blessing…and a light to many….especially her children.
(I want to mention here, that the Lord is the greatest respecter of women. He mentions them…and our responsibility to help and encourage them.
There are many women heroes of the Bible, who stood with the Lord against some or many: Deborah, Jael, Rahab, Ruth, Lydia, Dorcus, Pricilla…and when every king of Judah begins his reign, his mother’s name is mentioned…showing how important the teaching of children is by them.)
John is stressing that truth is the foundation of good works…in love.
It is truth that is emphasized….that love must be in truth. As Christians we must never love by setting aside the truth….but loving, in truth. (Ephesians 4:15)
Notice in the first three verses, truth is mentioned four times. John loves her in the truth….and not only her, but all who are in the Truth…who are in Christ.
Nothing can destroy the truth….for God maintains it…even in the face of all opposition and apostasy.
John greets this lady with the assurance that God the Father will give her grace (the unmerited favor of power), mercy (and how much we need this everyday) and peace, for her.
And greets her from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father in truth and love.
He writes to her in joy, having found that she and her children were walking in truth.
She had received by the Word to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and also the commandment to love one another…and she had…and taught her children to do the same.
He stresses to her….for she has refreshed the traveling missionaries or preachers, going about to encourage the local churches (what a blessing she has been to her children and all who see her and them Proverbs 31:27-28,31)
….but John stresses that she should be watchful of what these…actually say, and how they speak of Christ.
2 John 5-6 “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.”
John gives no new commandment…but what Christ Jesus had already said.
What was this commandment?
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
How did Jesus love us? He always loved us…in truth….calling us into the light of His truth….to be sanctified…set aside to Him.
John 17:19 “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
(John’s is eminently the gospel which speaks of truth: twenty-seven times it is spoken of, and all but one is spoken by Jesus or about Him. The last is Pilate asking “What is truth?”
Nineteen times Jesus speaks of love in John’s gospel, the last three times it is mentioned is Peter, in his confession of: “Thou knowest that I love Thee.” after his three denials.)
So here in this letter to this lady, John reminds her that we are to love, as brothers and sisters in Christ….but in truth.
“And this is love, that ye walk after His commandments”
2 John 7 “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.”
It is easy to want to help those that say “nice” things about Jesus…but we must always be listening to what they say….the doctrine they preach and teach.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Who was equal with God, yet who came in the flesh…born of a virgin; Who lived a perfect life…and died as the Lamb of God to take away our sins. He rose again the third day…HIs sacrifice for us being accepted….. and is now in Heaven, at the right hand of God for us…interceding for us.
2 John 9 “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.”
There were some who denied that Jesus was both God and man….there were some who denied His bodily resurrection….she must be watchful. They struck at the foundation of truth…”who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.”
Remember John is writing a simple believer, a woman….full of understanding,…yet one who might be swayed with words…as we all might, if we are not watchful.
We are not to tolerate evil, for such words could destroy the usefulness of a child of God.
(What trouble has come by the “friends” of Christ in communion with His enemies…till it is openly said that Christian charity must allow those that deny Christ in.
But John stresses, it is love, in truth, only.)
2 John 8 “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”
John, who loved her in the truth, warned her that failure to watch against deceivers was dangerous for her….and her children. We are to watch, and keep to the Word of God.
Faithfulness to Christ should always be first.
In this epistle, all is to be judged on their words….their doctrine. (Matthew 12:34-37)
The reward here is that of faithfulness to Christ and His Word…”Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
2 John 10 “If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:”
So subtle are the tricks of the Adversary….
…therefore, if any come and confess not that Jesus Christ is the Son of God…come in the flesh….receive him not.
Nor bid him “Godspeed”….which was a common farewell to Christians…a prayer for God’s blessing on the trip.
This is a reminder for every simple believer…not just teachers or preachers…but each of us to walk in truth. To love, but in truth.
John was going to come, and he would talk more with her then….but this was so important a subject…for the safety of her and her children….that he had to write to warn her…
….and us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 