2 John - Evening prayer

Truth and Love

2 John 1–13 NRSV

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love. 4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it. 7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist! 8 Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward. 9 Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching; 11 for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person. 12 Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister send you their greetings.

2 John

Here we have a passage about safeguarding the teaching of Christ. And yet John the Edler announces his motivation as love for one another (v5).

Truth and love (v3)

This is the foundation of the Gospel, isn’t it. Love. In fact the Truth of the Gospel is love. The Gospel is the expression of God’s love for us.

Isn’t this the reason why we preach and why we teach: because he first loved us? ()

1 John 4:19 NRSV

19 We love because he first loved us.

Much has been made of being true to Scripture because it is the Word of God, because it is holy. Perhaps even of an understanding that the eternal destiny of our audience may depend on our teaching.

Can we not say, though, given the implications of the Gospel, that to give an unfaithful account of Scripture is in fact unloving.

God is love. God is revealed in his Son. For those who are not indwelt with His Spirit the Son is best revealed through the gospels, the Gospel being the expression of God’s love. The teaching of Christ then becomes the very expression of God’s love.

To change the words of God to suit our reason, to create an unreal expectation of the promises of God for the sake of our audience. To deny the incarnate presence of Christ in the world (v7). To teach anything less than the Truth of the Word is in one sence to rob people of their access to God’s love as expressed through Scripture.

Unfortunately, as preachers and teachers we (our words and deeds) become the lens through which people view God. That being the case it rests on us to attempt to make sure that that lens is as clear as possible, that we transmit as little of us, and as much of the unadulterated love of God as possible.