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Introduction
The author is the apostle John.
Like John’s other writings, this letter appears to have been written relatively late in his life. This would be sometime from the 60’s to the 90’s AD.
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2 John 1
2 Jn 1:1-3 – Let’s break it down.
- “The elder” – All John’s writings seem to have come late in his life. However, given that he’s become prone to speaking in spiritual language like his Teacher did, it’s likely he’s referring to the length of time he’s spent walking in the faith. There is also that fact that church leaders were often called elders (just as they were synonymously called overseers, shepherds, pastors, bishops, and related terms). In short, the recipients knew who John was, and the letter was probably hand-delivered by someone who knew both him and the recipients, so there was no need for him to personally identify himself as John the son of Zebedee.
- “to the chosen lady” – In spiritual language, John is speaking to a church. The church in the New Testament was regularly portrayed in female form – with Christ as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. Given the way John is speaking to the group at the beginning and at the end of this letter, it seems to be a specific church in a specific location rather than the church at large or all individual churches.
- “and her children” – Churches were produced by the preaching of apostles like John. That this church has “children” indicates that it has itself been preaching in one way or another, making converts and therefore reproducing its faith in others.
- “whom I love in truth;” – John the apostle has learned to adopt the position that John the Baptist took.
John 3:29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.
- “and not only I, but also all who know the truth,” – This statement fits with the fact implied by “and her children” that this church has produced its own converts – that is, spreading the gospel has given this church a reputation among other churches. John is speaking to this church with the same attitude that Paul spoke to the church in Thessalonica – just with far fewer words. The apostles loved the churches that their preaching produced as godly parents love their children.
1 Thess 1:2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;
1 Thess 1:3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
1 Thess 1:4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
1 Thess 1:5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
1 Thess 1:6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
1 Thess 1:7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
1 Thess 1:8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.
1 Thess 1:9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
1 Thess 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
- “for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:” – Note the power of truth to unite and uphold those who believe in it! Our society today has rejected truth and even rejected the idea that there is truth. Like Pontius Pilate, they are adrift and have no moral anchor.
John 18:38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”…
- “Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” – This is a typical apostolic greeting. Something like it can be found at the beginning or end of most New Testament letters (epistles).
2 Jn 1:4 – The sight of someone doing right is a joy to the righteous.
2 Jn 1:5-6 – In the beginning, we were asked to love our neighbor as ourselves. In the end, we are asked to love one another as Jesus has loved us – which is, of course, more.
- Lev 19:18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
- John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
2 Jn 1:7-8 – This is a common refrain in the New Testament letters written late – such as 2 Timothy, 2 Peter, and 1 John. That refrain is that 1) false teachers and teachings proliferate in the last days before judgment (the Second Coming), and 2) sincere believers must be on guard against falling prey to either. False teachers and teachings are likewise proliferating in the last days of America. Teach your children to cling to the Bible because it is the surest guarantee of truth in the earth.
2 Jn 1:9 – Although this letter is obviously a modest one, this verse is as strong and helpful as any in the longer, more quoted letters. I commend it to you for underlining and memorizing. It is a point John and the other apostles have made elsewhere, but it is always worth emphasizing.
1 John 5:10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.
1 John 5:11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
2 Jn 1:10 – This is an extension of the warning John gave in verses 7 and 8 above.
2 Jn 1:11 – For most self-identifying American Christians in the 21st century, Christianity has been reduced to little more than “being nice” – politeness. Never say anything that would upset the other person. Courtesy is fine, but there is much more to truth than being courteous. Moreover, there is a time to be courteous and a time to cease being courteous. There is no virtue in showing courtesy to someone who is destroying your children.
2 Jn 1:12 – All the apostles felt this way. It’s a wonder we even have a New Testament! It is by the design of God and not man that we do.
2 Jn 1:13 – John wrote this letter to a church while present in a different church.
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