Reading
2 John
Questions
Greeting
1 The elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth—and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth—2 because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever [lit. “for the age”]. 3 Grace, mercy, peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in truth and love. 4 I was very glad because I found some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
Who is the author of 2 John and how does he identify himself?1
What does "the elect lady and her children" symbolize?2
Watch out for false teachers
5 And now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but one that we have had from the beginning), that we should love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
How does John define "love"? Does this sound familiar?3
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! 8 Watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have worked for but receive a full reward.
What heresy do the "deceivers" promote (v. 7)?4
9 Everyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in the teaching—this person has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not speak a greeting to him, 11 because the one who speaks a greeting to him shares in his evil deeds.
What is the consequence of welcoming false teachers?5
Conclusion and final greeting
12 Although I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so by means of paper and ink, but I hope to be with you and to speak face to face [lit. “mouth to mouth”], so that your joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
What is the relationship between truth and love in 2 John?6
What is the elect sister? What does election mean?7
Subscribe
Make sure you receive your Bereans every week in your inbox.
More
BibleProject Guide: The Books of 1-3 John
Early church tradition uniformly attributed 2 John to the apostle John, with no serious alternative author suggested; similarities in style, vocabulary, and theological themes between 2 John, 1 John, and the Gospel of John further support common authorship. These writings all emphasize key concepts such as “truth,” “love,” “commandment,” and “children,” and address similar issues, notably the warning against deceivers who deny Christ’s incarnation. While some modern scholars have speculated about another “elder John,” the early church and internal evidence overwhelmingly support the apostle John as the author of 2 John. [Terry Griffith, “The Translation of Ο ΠΡΟΑΓΩΝ in 2 John 9,” Tyndale Bulletin 67, no. 1 (2016): 137–144. Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 716–719. James Stuart Bell, ed., Ancient Faith Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bibles, 2019), 1573–1576.]
A local church and its members. [Terry Griffith, “The Translation of Ο ΠΡΟΑΓΩΝ in 2 John 9,” Tyndale Bulletin 67, no. 1 (2016): 137–144. Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 716–719. James Stuart Bell, ed., Ancient Faith Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bibles, 2019), 1573–1576. Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, eds., NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 2206–2211. Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1635–1646. NIV Bible Speaks Today: Notes (London: IVP, 2020), 1722–1725. David Jackman, The Message of John’s Letters: Living in the Love of God, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 173–202.]
Walking in obedience to God’s commands. He also wrote this in 1 John 5:2-3.
Docetism, i.e. denying that Jesus Christ came "in the flesh". () 13461072.
Docetism was an early Christian heresy that denied the full humanity of Jesus Christ, asserting that His physical body and sufferings were only apparent rather than real. The term derives from the Greek word δοκεῖν meaning "to seem" or "to appear". This view was closely associated with Gnosticism which regarded physical matter as inherently evil. Docetism undermined core Christian doctrines such as the incarnation, crucifixion, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. The heresy was strongly opposed by early Church fathers like Ignatius of Antioch and Irenaeus. [Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014–2021). Stuart G. Hall, “Docetism,” in The Dictionary of Historical Theology (Carlisle, Cumbria, U.K.: Paternoster Press, 2000), 163. Sinclair B. Ferguson and J.I. Packer, in New Dictionary of Theology (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 201.]
We sharing in their evil deeds.
They are inseparable. Truth without love is cold. Love without truth is empty.
The elect sister must be another church. Probably the local church that John is then a part of.
In the Old Testament, election refers to God's choice of the nation of Israel to be witnesses of YHWH to other nations and their gods. This was rooted in God's selection of Abraham and his descendants, establishing a covenant relationship with them. Covenant membership was signified by the circumcision of males. Importantly, being part of the elect group did not guarantee individual salvation. Covenant members could be "cut off" if they broke the covenant. There is no reason to assume that the meaning of election has changed in the NT except that gentiles have now been grafted in [Romans 11:17–24] and this is signified by baptism not circumcision. [John E. Toews, Romans, Believers Church Bible Commentary (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 2004), 253. Daniel G. Powers, 1 & 2 Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, New Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 2010), 40. David L. Jeffrey, in A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1992). Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Spirit and Salvation, vol. 4 of A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2016), 239.]