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The Letters of John
BC Weekly Digest
Monday, February 8 1999
In this issue:
2 John 1-13
2 John 1-13
2 John 1
2 John 3,4
2 John 1
2 John 1,2
2 John 3
2 John 1-13
John's Second Letter
Introduction
THE WRITER
The letter of 2 John was just about the size of a
postcard with its thirteen verses.
It is written by "the elder." Because of the similar
style and because of the letter's acceptance by early
churches, it is commonly agreed that "the elder" was the
apostle John.
After considering objections made by Moffatt, Dodd and
others, I find no valid reason to doubt this. When the
apostles were chosen, John was probably the youngest. Some
think the other apostles had all died by the time he wrote
this letter. If so, as the last surviving apostle, John
would have been "the" elder (eldest) of the apostles.
TIME OF WRITING
I do not even know the approximate year 2 John was
written. It is difficult to suggest even a probable date.
As a matter of fact, I have had a great amount of
difficulty establishing a date for John's other writings
as well. Some NT books are perplexing as to date, but
John's are next to impossible. I do not even know the
chronological sequence of his books. I suppose Cerinthus,
Basilides or someone like them is referred to, but I have
been unable to pin down the dates of their sinister
activity.
TO WHOM WRITTEN
There is uncertainty about who is addressed because the
"chosen lady" or "elect lady" may be taken literally or
figuratively (see extensive note under "To the elect lady"
(verse 1). We are at least sure the letter was written to
Christians.
OCCASION FOR WRITING
The short letter is cordial and personal but contains
sharp warnings about erroneous teachings. The same or
similar false teachers alluded to in 1 John are again
countered in this letter. They did not believe that Christ
came in the flesh. Instead, they taught that "Christ" came
upon Jesus at His baptism and left Him before He died on
the cross.
Charles Hess
------------------------------
2 John 1-13
BRIEF OUTLINE OF 2 JOHN
1. To the elect lady and her children (verses 1-4).
2. Love one another (verses 5, 6).
3. Many deceivers have gone out into the world
(verses 7-11).
4. Conclusion (verses 12, 13).
DETAILED OUTLINE OF 2 JOHN
1. To the elect lady and her children (verses 1-4).
a. Whom I love in truth.
b. Because of the truth.
c. In truth and love.
d. I rejoice greatly that I have met [some] of your
children who are walking in truth.
2. Love one another (verses 5, 6).
a. And this is love: that we walk according to His
commandments.
3. Many deceivers have gone out into the world
(verses 7-11).
a. Who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in
the flesh.
b. Watch out for yourselves, that you do not lose what
you have worked for.
c. Anyone going beyond -- and not remaining in -- the
teaching of Christ, does not have God.
d. If anyone does not bring this teaching, do not
receive him.
4. Conclusion (verses 12, 13).
a. Hope to come to you, and to speak face to face.
b. Children of your elect sister greet you.
Charles Hess
------------------------------
2 John 1
2 John 1
1 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
===
1 The elder
At the time of writing, John was HO PRESBUTEROS, the
elder. He was a senior citizen, a member of the older
generation (compare 1Ti 5:1, 2; 1Pe 5:5, Phm 9). Was he
also an elder of the church? Would it not seem odd that he
would call himself "the" elder if he was only one of many
older men? We know the apostle Peter was an elder of the
church (1Pe 5:1, 2). Some think John also was an elder in
this sense. As an apostle, John was also a PRESBEUO, an
ambassador of Christ (see 2Co 5:20; Eph 6:20), a position
usually held by older men. If the other apostles had gone
on to be with the Lord, he might refer to himself as "the
elder" because he was the only apostle still on earth.
Charles Hess
------------------------------
2 John 3,4
2 John 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"(OPV).
It is with this form of salutation that each Christian
should greet his fellow travelers in the Spirit. There are
three distinct but overlapping benedictions communicated
here by John.
1. GRACE This is the unmerited favor of God that He has
always shown to His children (John 3:16). God has given us
so much that it is not possible to repay Him. This should
be our feelings toward God as well as to our fellow saints
who are in need. Graciousness is the aura of a Christian.
2. MERCY Mercy is a difficult word to define but it
includes the clemency of God (1 Peter 2:10).
The following extensive definition of God's mercy is
given by W.L.Walker in "The Classic Bible Dictionary"
(Sovereign Grace Trust Fund, 1988).
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3. PEACE Peace is the characteristic that identifies
each Christian as a child of God (Matthew 5:9). Without
peace, one cannot have mercy and without peace one cannot
have grace. Each of these three characteristics are
dependent upon the other two.
2 John 4
"I rejoice greatly that I have met [some] of your children
who are walking in truth, according to the commandment we
received from the Father."(OPV)
Each of us should always rejoice in the salvation of
each other. And we should be warm and hospitable to all
who have claimed Christ as their Lord.
Whether these are indeed the actual children of a
particular woman, or members of a certain congregation, no
one knows.
Whomever they might have been, they were walking in the
light of God delivered by the Holy Spirit to all the
writers of the New Testament. There can be no doubt that
the Bible is the inspired word of our Heavenly Father
(2 Timothy 3:16)
Howard Justice
------------------------------
2 John 1
2 John 1
1 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
===
"To the elect lady"
The Greek KURIA (lady) is thought by some to have been
a personal name. If so, we might anglicize it as Kyria,
Kuria, Cyria or Curia. The Greek EKLEKTEE (elect or
chosen) is generally taken as an adjective modifying
KURIA. Thus the letter was addressed to the chosen lady
or the elect Cyria.
Some take EKLEKTEE as a proper name but I doubt that.
Would her "elect" sister have a name so much like hers?
Does it not seem odd that the sister of the EKLEKTEE KURIA
(elect lady) would be named ADELPHEES EKLEKTEES (elect or
chosen sister) (verse 13)? Some have postulated that the
"elect lady" was a certain Christian woman whom John
appreciated for her works' sake. The identity of the woman
has never been confirmed. Was the letter "catholic" and
addressed to the universal church termed the "elect lady"?
I doubt that also. If that were the case, who was her
chosen sister?
"Elect" is an adjective applied appropriately to all
Christians (see 1Pe 5:13). Was the "elect" lady one local
church and her sister another congregation of the churches
of Christ? The use of HUMAS and HUMIN, plurals of "you"
and "to you" (verses 10, 12) does not help much in this
matter since the letter was addressed to more than one
person -- to the elect lady and her children. One rule of
biblical interpretation is to take a passage literally
unless there is a good reason to understand it
figuratively.
Applying this rule with some caution, one may say the
book was personal, that it was addressed to a certain
unidentified lady with lessons that apply to other
individuals and to local congregations as well. The
lessons apply with just as much force to churches today.
Charles Hess
------------------------------
2 John 1,2
2 John 1,2 (OPV)
1 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
2 because of the truth abiding in us. And with us it will
be for ever.
===
"And her children"
This may be explained as the literal offspring of the
"elect lady" or, possibly, her converts. If the elect lady
is a congregation, then her children might have been the
members of the congregation or other congregations begun
by that local church. Her sister could then be the
congregation where John was when he wrote (verse 13).
Since John sent greetings from the sister's children, we
may infer that they were with him when he wrote.
"Whom"
The word "whom" includes the elect lady and her
children.
"I love"
John uses the word AGAPOO, a word for love that
signifies the kind of unselfish love God has for man and
which Christians have for each other. The Greek present
tense suggests John had a continuing love for them.
"In truth"
John sincerely loved the "elect lady" and her children.
His love was profound because of the common bond due to
their obedience to the truth of the gospel (see 1Pe 1:22).
"And not only I, but also all who know the truth"
When one comprehends the great love of God he begins to
return that love. He cannot love Him without obeying His
commandments. When one loves God, he also loves God's
children (see 1Jo 4:20, 21; 5:1, 2). John's love for the
elect lady and her children was shared by all Christians.
The truth is knowable (see Joh 8:32). In the sense in
which John uses the term, knowing the truth means becoming
a Christian. The truth cannot really abide in one who does
not respond to it in obedience.
"Because of the truth"
The truth is according to "the commandment from the
Father" (verse 4) and "His commandments" (verse 5). It is
identical to "the teaching of Christ" (verse 9). It is the
same truth in which Peter's readers were "established"
(2Pe 1:12).
"Abiding in us"
The truth is the gospel seed that abides within the
heart of faithful Christians (see 1Jo 3:9; compare Lu
8:11).
"And with us it will be"
In Greek "And with us" is in the emphatic position at
the beginning of the phrase. Unlike the seed on the path
that was removed by birds (Satan), the seed on the good
ground will germinate and produce. It will spring up to
eternal life (compare Mt 13:4, 8; Lu 8:12, 15; Joh 4:14).
"For ever"
The word of God is permanent (Mt 24:35; Lu 21:33;
compare Ps 119:89, 152; Isa 40:8; Mt 5:18; 1Pe 1:25).
Charles Hess
------------------------------
2 John 3
2 John 3 (OPV)
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.
===
"Grace, mercy [and] peace"
Our loving God extends grace that takes the form of
mercy which, when properly received by man, relieves guilt
and misery and brings life and peace (Joh 3:16; Ro 5:1).
In six other passages, John uses the same Greek word
[charis] for grace (Joh 1:14, 16,17; 3Jo 4; Re 1:4; Re
22:21).
"Will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus
Christ"
Grace, mercy and peace are blessings from both God the
Father and from Jesus Christ. Though not conclusive, this
is strongly indicative of the deity of Christ.
"The Son of the Father"
John also wrote, "No man has seen God at any time; the
only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He
has declared Him" (Joh 1:18). John wrote in his first
epistle, "And our fellowship is with the Father and with
His Son, Jesus Christ" (1Jo 1:3; compare 2:22, 23).
"In truth and love"
The truth is sincerity (verses 1a, 3). It is also the
gospel truth in which Christians walk (verses 1b, 4).
Charles Hess
