A Verse By Verse Survey of 2 John
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· 7 viewsIn our desire to show love and hospitality, we must not promote false teaching by enabling false teachers.
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Date: 66-68 most likely written before 1 John because the false teachers mentioned in 1 John are referenced as having already separated from the congregation while in 2 John they have not yet separated from them. 1 John 2:19 In fact, it seems as if the church was not aware of their heresy.
Vs 1 the elder unto the elect lady and her children
Because this is a letter, it is important to understand who the letter was written by and who it was written to. The apostle John addresses himself as the elder. The term elder is πρεσβυτερος which is many secular cultures referred to older men. It was however, also used as a term of rank or position. Members of the sanhedrin were referred to as elders. Within the church this term could refer to those with a well-proven mature Christian experience (Wuest). There was early discussion about the canonicity of the book because some believed that the book was not written by John the Apostle but by John the Elder another supposed John. The argument is that if it were the Apostle John had been the writer he would have addressed himself as such. Considering he was one of the original Apostles, there was no need for him to establish his credibility. As well, it makes sense that he might have gone by this title if he was simply referring to himself as the oldest living apostle. The earlier church Fathers Iraneaus, Polycarp, Clement of Alexandria and even Origen accepted the apostolic authority while it seems to only be questioned later on by Eusebius, and Jerome. Their doubts were based on a quote from Papias, but Eusebius had reason to want to deny the authenticity of certain of the books of John because of their theological implications.
The letter is addressed to the elect lady. Elect here is a reference to the fact that she is a believer along with her children. The question that many disagree on is who this lady was. There are two main positions with two sub-positions under each.
Support for a literal lady:
more natural greeting that follows the same pattern as 3 John
She is referenced as having a sister with nieces and nephews
If she is not a literal lady who are the children
Two views are that she is a lady name Kyra (Wuest takes this view, the name was the Greek from of the name Martha) or an unidentified woman (Electa as the name held by Clement of Alexandria)
My view- Literal lady with a church in her house. She was a lady of means which is why the word κυρια is used which is a form of κυριοσ.
Support for a figurative lady being the church:
the pronouns switch to plural other than in vs 1 and 13
she is loved by all those who love the truth
the command to love one another
the personification of the church in the bible is often feminine
Two views: could be a local church or a universal church
Whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all they that have known (experiential) the truth- John attests his love to her in an agape sort of way. This isn’t some woman that he is romantic towards, but a sister in the Lord. Notice he says I love in the truth. What is the truth in 2 John? The author really takes a double stance towards what the truth is in the book. As we see in vs 2, the truth seems to be personified and most likely refers to Jesus Himself.
Why do you think John mentioned truth so many times in his letter?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Vs 2 This truth promises to dwell with us forever. It is for his sake and the verse speaks of those who have known the truth. This truth is an experiential knowledge not a head knowledge, and yet the rest of the book also talks about the truth as a set of beliefs. So what is the connection? All truth finds its source in God. As Jesus is the source of truth, the teacher of the doctrinal beliefs and the topic about which they deal, a denial of these doctrinal truths is a denial of Jesus.
Vs 4 John was rejoicing that he had come accross some of her children who were walking in the truth.
Vs 5-6 logical progression
He reminds her of the command that Christ had given them in
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
b. Love is expressed through obedience
c. We should walk in the teaching that we heard from the beginning
This passage fits into my series on the one another passages in that we love one another by remaining true to the doctrine that we have received. When I graduated from high school a group of us all went off to bible college. In that group traveling out that year was Jon Cloud, Paul J, Viola, Luke, Myself, Andrew Maclemore, Mittu as well Anita Mohinani and Monica Mohinani were all in bible college at that time. One of the biggest things that grieves my heart is to think back at how many of my friends ended up in radically different places spiritually since those days. I rejoice in those that are still walking with the Lord and in truth, but it is a weight on me and I miss my friends.
When we went to bible college, our freshman class had over 100 students. By the time, Luke and I graduated I think it was around 25. Now not all those who dropped out were shipwrecked spiritually or doctrinally. Some just could pay the bills or went to other schools, but some who dropped out were because of falling away.
We have an opportunity to love our Lord but also to love one another by staying true to the Word of God. Many can’t do that because they themselves do not have a firm grasp on the deeper truths of the word of God. Hebrews challenges us to leaves behind the principles of the doctrine of Christ (not forsaking but moving forward from them) and to move on to maturity in our faith.
Vs 7 some manuscripts have are gone out into the world while the majority of the Byzantine manuscripts have are gone into the world. The claim that these false teachers denied that Jesus is come in the flesh actually is twofold. The basic attack is coming from the Docetist who believe that Jesus only had a phantom body or spiritual body and not real flesh and blood. But within this statement is also an argument against those who viewed Jesus as just a man. By using the word “come” the author is laying out the pre-existence of Christ.
Where do we draw the doctrinal lines on who we separate from as false teachers?
Technically, Apollos was a false teacher in that he taught something false before he met with Aquila and Pracilla Acts 18:24-28. Calvin said that no theologian is more than 80% correct. Being a false teacher cannot mean being wrong. Basically comes down to heresy. Heresy is denying the basic tenets of Christianity such as the diety of Christ, the trinity, sinless life and substitutionary death of Christ, salvation by grace through faith and the gospel, the Virgin birth of christ, bodily resurrection, and the supernatural. All of these doctrines deal with the person and work of Christ in redeeming mankind.
Thoughts about false teachers:
They are condemned
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
2. They deny Christ
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
3. They are trying to exploit their followers
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
4. They reject standard doctrine
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
5. They come in secretly
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. They bind your conscience with unscriptural rules- such as forbidding to marry and eating meats
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Vs 8 full reward- some have taken this to refer to eternal life, but it makes more sense with the whole of scripture to refer this passage as referring to our rewards in Heaven at the judgment seat of Christ. Look to yourselves- central point of the book
Vs 9 One sign that a person is not a Christian is that he denies the essential doctrines about who Christ is. If they do not believe that Christ came in the flesh, meaning they affirm that he was both God and man at the same time, they cannot be a Christian.
Vs 10 If anyone is coming and does not bring this doctrine- that Christ is come in the flesh- stop receiving him. The greek wording of this word “receive” indicates that she had been receiving these people. Most likely she was doing this out of ignorance, but John tells her to stop. She is not only not to show hospitality, she is not even to great him. This isn’t a command that says you cannot have a lost person over to your house because they don’t believe Jesus was God or even a historical person. The word “bring” in this passage has the idea of carrying something to you for your consideration. This person is trying to win you over to their perspective and indoctrinate you.
Vs 11 Greeting them and helping them along their way are viewed as being a partner in their evil.
Vs 12 John wanted to speak to them more face to face. There is an aspect in which face to face communication is so much better. You all know that Luke and I do a podcast and a blog called soundtradition. God has blessed us in allowing us to have this ministry, but there is a limit to what we can do. Being face to face allows us to deal with the specific issues that our listeners might face, it allows us to answer questions, it allows our listeners to hear and see the emotional queues and see our heart in what we are saying.
Vs 13 Her nieces and nephews who most likely attended John’s church or wherever he was at at the time sent their greetings.