2 John
Truth and love together: walk in truth, love one another, and do not welcome deceivers.
Second John is a short personal letter from “the elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth” (1). Whether the elect lady was an individual Christian woman and her family or a local church and its members, she was walking in truth during a time of dangerous deception.
John rejoices that some of her children walk in truth, and he renews the old commandment to love one another. But love has limits. Many deceivers have entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. Traveling teachers depended on believers’ hospitality, and to receive such a teacher into one’s house and bid him God speed would make one “partaker of his evil deeds” (10–11).
The letter is a needed balance. First John urges believers to measure their obedience by their love; 2 John warns them not to let love become tolerance of false doctrine. Truth without love is harsh; love without truth is dangerous.
Writer: John the apostle, writing as the elder
Written: From Ephesus, about AD 85 (within AD 68–90).
Name: John means Jehovah is gracious.
Title and authorship
The second epistle of John, the elder (presbuteros), a title suited to the aged apostle.
The apostle John wrote the letter. Its vocabulary and themes—truth, love, commandment, antichrist, abide, the doctrine of Christ—closely match 1 John.
Historical background
Probably from Ephesus between AD 68 and 90, about the same time as 1 John.
“The elect lady and her children”—a faithful Christian woman and her household, or a local church.
Traveling teachers
In the early church, traveling evangelists and teachers moved from town to town and relied on believers for lodging. Hospitality was a Christian duty (Romans 12:13), but it could be exploited. The Didache, an early Christian manual, gives rules for testing traveling prophets.
Docetism
Some early heretics taught that Christ only seemed (Greek dokeo) to have a body. John’s insistence that Jesus Christ “is come in the flesh” (7) opposes this denial of the incarnation.
Paper and ink
John had many things to write but preferred not to use “paper and ink,” hoping to speak “face to face” (12). The letter would have fit on a single sheet of papyrus.
Key passages
2 John 4
John rejoices to find her children walking in truth.
2 John 7
Many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
2 John 9–11
Whoever abides not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God; receive him not, neither bid him God speed.
2 John 6
Love is expressed by walking according to God’s commandments.
Outline
1–4 · Walking in truth commended
The elder’s love and joy rest in the truth shared by the recipients.
5–6 · Love commanded
The old command is renewed as an obedient walk.
7–11 · Deception resisted
Christ-denying teaching must not receive endorsement or assistance.
12–13 · Personal fellowship anticipated
John hopes to speak face to face and sends greetings.
Original language
ἐκλεκτὴ κυρία (eklekte kuria, G1588) — “the elect lady”
Kuria is the feminine of kurios, lord. It may be a woman’s name (Kyria) or a title of honor; some understand it of a church. The word “elect” fits either.
ἀλήθεια (aletheia, G225) — “truth”
Truth appears five times in the first four verses. It is objective—the truth that dwells in us—and practical—walking in truth.
χαίρειν (chairein, G5463) — “God speed”
The common greeting “rejoice!” or “welcome!” To bid a false teacher this greeting is to endorse his mission and share in his evil deeds.
διδαχὴ τοῦ Χριστοῦ (didache tou Christou, G1322) — “the doctrine of Christ”
The teaching about Christ—that Jesus is the Christ, God come in the flesh. Abiding in it means having both the Father and the Son.
Doctrinal study
The doctrine of Christ
Non-negotiable truths: Jesus is the promised Christ of Israel; the Christ is God in human flesh; He is the only source of eternal life and salvation; and He is the rightful King of the universe, Israel, and our lives, reigning forever. No system that adds to, subtracts from, or substitutes for faith in His finished work can be tolerated.
Separation from false teachers
Believers are not to receive into their house one who brings not the doctrine of Christ, nor bid him God speed (10). This is not a command to be rude, but not to give endorsement, platform, or support to those who deny Christ.
Full reward
“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (8). Salvation is not at stake, but reward is; compromise with error can forfeit what has been built.
Commentary notes
Commended, commanded, cautioned
The lady is commended for walking in truth (1–4), commanded to make truth the basis of her love (5–6), and cautioned to make sure her love has limits (7–13).
2 John and 3 John
Second John says truth is worth standing for; 3 John says truth is worth living for. Second John deals with welcoming deceivers; 3 John with refusing to receive faithful workers. Second John warns against a preeminent doctrine that exalts itself above Christ; 3 John against a preeminent person who exalts himself above others.
Seeing John again
John hoped to come and speak face to face, “that our joy may be full” (12). The saints of the last days likewise look forward to seeing the Lord face to face.
Christ in the book
- Jesus Christ come in the flesh (7)
- The Son of the Father, in truth and love (3)
Applications
Historical
- John’s letter of encouragement and warning to faithful believers under continuing pressure from false teachers, teaching them to love within doctrinal limits.
- The letter addresses the reception and support of teachers during the spread of the false teaching confronted throughout John’s epistles.
Doctrinal
- The Lord’s sixth letter to the saints of the last days, reaffirming the priority of truth in love and making the doctrine of Christ the test of fellowship. The warning about deceivers and the antichrist fits the last days and the Tribulation.
- The doctrine of Christ is essential to fellowship with the Father and the Son and governs participation in a teacher’s work.
- The incarnate Christ fulfills the promised Messiah’s identity and remains the only source of eternal life.
Devotional
- Believers must maintain the balance between truth and love (Ephesians 4:15). We cannot have true fellowship with those who deny Christ, and we cannot speak the truth without love.
- Christian love includes discernment concerning the teaching a person supports, especially where the person and doctrine of Christ are denied.
- John defines love through obedience to God’s commandments, giving it a basis beyond personal feeling.
- Value personal fellowship and direct conversation, as John does in his closing desire.
Answering the critics
Debates about the authorship, date, order, and recipient of John’s letters have continued for centuries without substantial result.
Most accept the letter as canonical Scripture; its close links to 1 John confirm its author. The debate over the identity of the elect lady does not affect the message.