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The Letters of John
BC Weekly Digest Monday, March 22 1999 In this issue: 2 John 5-9 2 John 1 2 John 1 2 John 10-13 2 John 11 2 John 5-9 2 John 5-9 5 "And now I entreat you, lady, not as though I were writing a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another"(OPV). John pleads with this lady, be she the living church, a single congregation or some group of congregations or just a beloved saint, to remember that all Christians were required to love one another. This was the AGAPAO love that was so fully demonstrated by the sacrifice of God's "only begotten Son" for the sins of the world (John 3:16). Love is the basic prerequisite for salvation. It is God's love for us that gave us hope through His Son. It is our love in return that draws us close to God through our acceptance of His will (1 John 4:8-11). Hence, if we love God, we will do His will. 6 "And this is love: that we walk according to His commandments. This -- as you have heard from the beginning - -- is the commandment in which you should walk"(OPV). The proof of our love is that we walk in His way rather than the ways of man. "No man can serve two masters, else he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon"(Matthew 6:24 KJV). Jesus taught from the beginning of His ministry in Galilee that men must love one another as God has loved us. Loving each other has been fundamental to the revelation of God from the beginning. 7 "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist"(OPV). There is no question as to the identity of the antichrist. "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son"(1 John 2:22 KJV). Every man or woman who denies the majesty and supremacy of Jesus Christ by turning their backs upon the Lord and Savior is an antichrist. Anyone who teaches that Jesus was something less than the only begotten Son of God is an antichrist. In finality then, all who fail to serve God through faithful and loving obedience to Christ are antichrists. He is not some mystical or prophetic creature as some proclaim. There is nothing supernatural about this creature. John further identifies him in 1 John 4:3: "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist , whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world"(KJV). 8 "Watch out for yourselves, that you do not lose what you* have worked for, but that you might receive a full reward"(OPV). [*Some manuscripts have "we".] John is encouraging his readers to be careful about their spiritual welfare for which they have worked so hard, to be careful not to lose that of which they have been assured. It is so easy to become disheartened by the toils and cares of this world and to become mired in the morass of sin and doubt. Let us all pray and serve Him as we ought lest we at any time lose those things that are promised to the faithful. "Therefor we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]; God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" (Heb. 2:1-4 KJV). 9 "Anyone going beyond -- and not remaining in -- the teaching of Christ, does not have God. He who remains in the teaching, has both the Father and the Son"(OPV). The warning is there. It is plainly written in the Holy Word of God for all to see. Jesus told us that there would be detractors in Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"(KJV). What a terrible end! To have thought that you were serving God but actuality, you were serving Satan! I could think of nothing more terrible than to have labored through life thinking that I was right when I was actually failing to do what God had required of me. Howard Justice ------------------------------ 2 John 1 2 John 1 The question has been asked, "In 2 John verse 1, John refers to himself as 'The elder'. Is this term elder here a different type of elder than the ones who are to be in leadership of the church? If so, then how do we know he met the qualifications / qualities as described in Timothy and Titus, and of what congregation was he an overseer? If not, then what type of 'elder' is this referring to?" === The term 'elder' is the word PRESBUTEROS in Greek. Thayer gives several definitions of the word, among which are two often-used meanings: 1. An elder [person], of age [usually a man] which would include forefathers, etc. 2. A rank or office which would include the Jewish Sanhedrin council and later, the elected bishops or overseers of the church (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:4-9). Whether John was indeed an elder in regard to the office of an overseer of the church is uncertain. There is an inference that he may have been numbered with those "apostles and elders" at Jerusalem unto whom the emissaries were sent in Acts 15. Certainly, he was an apostle and it is not unreasonable to think that he may well have had a family and, like Peter, would have also been appointed as an elder in Jerusalem (1 Peter 5:1) due to his stature as an apostle. Regardless of whether he was an appointed overseer of the church there, he was an elder statesman as an apostle and as such was to be shown the courtesy of an 'elder' person as a saint. According to Tacitus and other profane historians, he was banished by the Roman government to the island of Patmos of which he makes specific mention in Revelation 1:9. Howard Justice ------------------------------ 2 John 1 2 John 1 The question has been asked. "Who is the 'elect lady' spoken of in 2 John 1?" === Commentators are divided as to this person's identity, if indeed such is the inference. This 'word picture' may well be in reference to a particular congregation of God's people or to a group of such in a specific area. You will note that John refers to another such entity in the 13th verse of this same text. It is not unreasonable to assume that both were identical in their nature and makeup since he refers to them as 'elect' and notes the presence of children. From this, many believe that he was speaking of two congregations of God's people. Such a belief has great merit since all members of the family of God have 'elected' to serve Him and since they constitute the local 'church' or congregation, the assembly also can be properly called 'the elect' (Col 3:12; 2 Tim 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2). With this in mind it is not unreasonable to believe that this is a direct reference to a local church. Also note that these warnings and admonitions deal specifically with the problems of the early church (the local assemblies). Of course, this interpretation may not be correct since it is remotely possible that John was referring to two specific women of great faith who both had faithful children. Regardless, the indefinite meanings are of little concern to us today since we are to have a greater concern for the securing of our soul's destiny (Matthew 6:33; Titus 3:9). Howard Justice ------------------------------ 2 John 10-13 2 John 10-13 10 "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into [your] house, and do not bid him welcome" (OPV). Anyone who comes teaching something other than the doctrine of Christ is to be unwelcome. Yet, he (or she) should first be given an opportunity, as when Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside in Ephesus and taught him "more perfectly" the "way of God". Some Christians want to just drive any and every person away who has a different interpretation of God's will. Not so, for we are to follow the example of these two distinguished personal workers and try to teach them. If they persist in disrupting the assembly with error, then there may need to be the "putting away" of the old leaven of sin.(1 Cor 5:7) Many take 1 Corinthians 1:10 farther than was intended, and think that if someone doesn't believe just like they do regarding some minor point of doctrine, then they ought to be excommunicated from the assembly. Such is not the spirit of love but a spirit of arrogance and pride. It is the old feeling that "I know better than you do what the Word says." There never seems to be any room for love for each other or realization that either the speaker or the hearer may be sincerely wrong. When we fold up our tents and quit studying, discussing and debating God's Word, may Heaven help us all! In addition, some have the erroneous feeling that such people ought to be put out of the church (in the universal sense) thinking that what is done by men on a local scale is always matched by God on a universal scale. Such a feeling comes not from the Word of God but from denominationalism. The universal church is made up of all saints, both dead and living (Eph 3:14,15; Heb 12:22,23). Any erasure of names from the Lamb's book of life is done solely and wholly by God Almighty. He alone has that responsibility (Acts 2:48). We cannot even be sure that everyone who calls himself a Christian here on earth and assembles with a local congregation is indeed saved. Only God knows for sure. False teachers (those who persist in teaching damnable heresies regardless of the truth) are to be set out of the local congregation (1 Cor 5:2,11-13). 11 "For he who bids him welcome, shares in his evil works" (OPV). Indeed! If we tolerate persistent false teaching regarding God's Word, then we will have become a partaker of his evil deeds and are become lost just as he is. Let us all be very cautious that we not be overtaken by such teachings and that we love one God first, and love and treat each other as His children. 12 "Having many things to write to you, I did not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be complete"(OPV). John notes here that even though he has the materials to write unto them regarding other concerns that he has for them, he will forfeit that opportunity, trusting that he would be able to do a more complete and appropriate job in person. It is sometimes better to meet certain problems face to face than to communicate in a "sterile" fashion through writing. It is impossible to include the little nuances and gestures that are often necessary to allay fears in the written word. Thus He has reserved that part of his letter for a personal presentation. 13 "The children of your elect sister greet you"(OPV). Here John again puzzles us by the word picture that he uses to illustrate the concern that a special group of God's children had for another group. Such a deep concern is as it should be when we meet Christians whom we have never met before. We should be hospitable and warm toward all who love God (Romans 12:10). Howard Justice ------------------------------ 2 John 11 2 John 11 The question has been asked: "What is involved in bidding someone 'God's speed' (verse 11)? Does this warning pertain only to one's home? In 2 John verses 10 and 11, we are 'commanded' to not receive a person into your house who does not 'bring this teaching' (verse 9), or to give them a greeting. If this is so, how are we to spread the gospel into the whole world? The world doesn't bring this teaching! And, Jesus said he came for the sick. If we are to love one another (verse 5), then what does this actually mean?" === This is an often misunderstood phrase. Thayer notes that this Greek word, CHAIRO, means, "greeting, salutation, to hail, to be well or to thrive, to rejoice". By taking all these definitions and considering a common thread that runs throughout, it simply means to treat as if nothing has happened to divide brethren, to rejoice in the company of a person. With this in mind it is not difficult to see that this is referring to a situation where even false doctrine (that which will cause one to lose his soul or hinder the Lord's work) makes no difference. This is totally contrary to the earlier teachings of Paul in Romans 16:17. Note* See also my comments on verses 7 through 10. In regard to whether or not this is referring solely to a person's home, the church or anywhere else is beside the point. Since it is likely that this text is directed to a local congregation that John identifies as the "elect lady and her children," it is not unreasonable to infer that he uses the term house to imply the meeting place of the family of this lady. Hence, it has application to the local congregation. A false teacher is to shown no hospitality within the congregation or anywhere else that the truth dwells including the homes of Christians (James 3:16). Howard Justice