2 John 1:1-3
Early church tradition held that the apostle John wrote this book. Although the book doesn’t specifically tell us, that is rarely disputed. The early church fathers called the apostle John “the elder.”
The word 'elder' probably isn't intended to be understood as the office of elder. It's a word speaking of his age and life. John knew Jesus and walked with Him most of his life. He saw Jesus heal and feed thousands. He watched as he was beaten and crucified. He went into the empty tomb. He was present when the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost. That pretty much qualifies you as an elder (presbyteros).
John wrote to the elect lady and her children. The big question is, who is the lady and her children? Is it a person or maybe the owner of a house church? The church and Israel are often referred to as women.
- There is some thought that the elect lady was a kind of code word for the church in those days of immense persecution. Being a Christian got you crucified, fed to the lions, or worse. Using a nondescript codeword might keep them alive if the letter were intercepted.
- The church is the bride of Christ. John is likely writing to a church as a lady and the children as those in the church.
- However, we should keep the option open that he speaks to a specific lady, prophetess, or deaconess in the church.
The bottom line is we don't know who she is, but we know she is either a believer or a group of them.
John's all about love and truth in a world short on both. That speaks to us today. Love has grown cold, and truth is irrelevant in our culture. This lady, whoever she was, was loved by all believers. All believers have this common bond. We've all received an amazing gift of truth. And we carry this eternal gift, abiding in us while we walk in this imperfect body.
In the letter's context, John’s use of the word truth refers to orthodoxy. The false teachers had led many astray with heresy that tickled the ears, comforted the flesh, and eased the pressure of persecution. Many shed the orthodox understanding of Jesus to grasp something more comfortable. This started in the garden with Eve and continues today. What is this truth? It is a confirmation of the lady’s orthodoxy of belief. It is holding to the apostolic Christology by which they came to be. These foundational truths keep us through dark times.
The ‘truth which abides in us’ may also reference the Holy Spirit.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. (John 14:16-17)
John has a knack for word counts. Look at those first two verses, and we see he stuffed the word 'truth' into one sentence three times. That shows John's concern for what was happening. The truth was being challenged, and the unsuspecting Christian needed to be on guard.
It’s been said grace is getting what you don’t deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. And peace comes from knowing both. This is a normal opening to a letter, with maybe a little poke at the false teachers. Notice in verse 3 the proclamation that Jesus was the Father’s son. This is speaking directly to counter the false teachings of the day.
2 John 1:4-6
This is the joy of this elder pastor. He crossed paths with some of these children and discovered they were walking with the Lord. They had held onto their first love and not fallen prey to the false teachers.
John didn't imply it necessarily, but you wonder how many he ran into who weren't walking in truth? How many had fallen prey? How many ran for a while and faded? How many never took a step?
This passage also contains evidence of John's grave concern. While he found joy in some of the children, the false teacher’s work hard had spread lies and drawn some away. As the elder, he wanted the continuation of those walking in truth and the correction of those who weren't.
John's not beyond pleading for others to listen. Truth never changes. It’s the same as it was in the beginning. John repeated, with a pleading tone, what the lady already knew. Love one another. Love is the measure of the character of the Christian walk. Character is what you do when no one is looking. When no one is looking, and there is nothing to be gained or lost, do you love your brother and sister?
John recorded Jesus giving this command in John 13:34-35:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Our love for God is revealed in obedience. Within that obedience is a desire to love, and John said we should walk in it. This is just making it an everyday part of your life. It's not hit-and-miss or only when it's convenient.
2 John 1:7-8
In that day and time, it was normal and expected to show hospitality to a traveler. With the birth and the spread of the church, many teachers and missionaries had gone out into the world to teach their message. The problem then was that many of them were teaching a false message. They did not confess Jesus coming as coming in the flesh. They said Jesus couldn't be associated with the flesh because they saw flesh as bad, source of wickedness. We can imagine the confusion this caused. These folks had been raised in a way that said hospitality was all important. They were torn between what the apostle said and what their mother and father taught them.
This was somewhat of a widespread problem at the time. There is some indication this was when the Didache (did-a-kay) was put together. The Didache is like a book instructing people on how to function as a Christian in this world. It was to help people understand orthodox beliefs and show them how to put faith into action.
The Didache dealt briefly with many different topics. One of the topics was hospitality.
Therefore, the one who comes and teaches you all of these things which have been previously spoken, accept him. But if he, the teacher, should turn to teach another teaching, so as to release this one, do not listen to him. But if he teaches to promote what is right and knowledge of the Lord, accept him as you would the Lord.
Now about the envoys and prophets, do just as according to the tenet of the good message. Now each envoy who comes to you, accept as you would the Lord. But he will not remain for one day. Now if there is need, also the next day. But if he remains for three, he is a false prophet.
Now when the envoy departs, he should take nothing except bread until he lodges. But if he should ask for money, he is a false prophet.
And every prophet who speaks with the spirit, you will not test or judge, for every sin will be forgiven. But not everyone who speaks with the spirit is a prophet: but if he has the conduct of the Lord. Therefore, from their conduct, the false prophet and the prophet will be made known. And no prophet with the spirit who orders a meal eats from it, unless indeed he is a false prophet. Now every prophet who teaches the truth, if he does not do as he teaches, is a false prophet. But every prophet who has been proved, who is true, who does things for the kosmic secrets of the assembly but who does not teach to do as he does, will not be judged among you. For the ancient prophets did it this way also. But whoever says with the spirit, "Give me money (or something else)," you will not listen to him. But if he says to give on behalf of others who are in need, no one should judge him.
John acknowledged that many had gone out in the world as deceivers. And He said, "Look to yourselves." How do you do that? A person had to sort out the false teachers from the orthodox. The Didache may have been the tool provided. It may have also been when John was involved in the thought process that identified the need for such a thing.
John encouraged the lady not to lose all the apostles had worked for. Don't allow the enemy to destroy the church. It wasn't just good enough to have a good start, but to also finish well. In the first epistle, John said he wrote that they would know the Son and continue to believe in the Son. There is a very real sense that aiding, or maybe even allowing false teaching, diminishes or forfeits eternal rewards.
2 John 1:9-11
A transgression is getting outside the boundary. You might look at it as going out of bounds. The false teachers were running out of bounds. You can't deny the son yet claim a relationship with God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are inseparable. They are One God in three persons. Fallen man can only know the Father through the Son. When we believe in the Son and abide in Him, we have both the Father and the Son.
Receiving someone who knowingly runs out of bounds is to share in their ministry of false teaching. No matter how religious or wise or politically correct the teaching may seem. If it causes you to leave your foundation to partner with them, you are running out of bounds also. Where their culture and tradition might call for hospitality in spite of belief, John says this is trouble. The absence of the doctrine of Christ nullifies any cultural norm or tradition.
The doctrine of Christ is the belief that Jesus is a real man who was born of a human and died as a man but overcame death. Jesus is alive today as a man in a glorified state. If someone comes to you without this teaching, John commands us not to welcome them. If you do, you are sharing in his wicked work. You are promoting the antichrist agenda.
The question for us is, what do we do with this? John isn't saying we can't have an unbeliever in our house. He is talking about the deceivers who have gone out into the world. They are promoting an agenda. They are missionaries for the antichrist. Our lives will be lived in the presence of many unbelievers and those who don't know the doctrine of Christ. It's our job to share it with them while remaining in bounds.
I think the church often gets too focused on this open arms concept, just inviting the whole world in the front door of the church. Sure, everyone is welcome, but church is for believers. Churches are being redesigned to make the pagans feel comfortable. We don't owe our hospitality to the pagan preacher. We don't offer our blessings to bless those who don't hold the doctrine of Christ. At the same time, John isn't calling us into seclusion. We aren't to hole up and seal ourselves away from the world.
We need to be cautious in our walk. John asked us to look after ourselves. Don’t run ahead beyond your teaching. Keep your feet planted in the word. Don't ever get so wise you leave your foundation. We live in a world that believes it's okay to run out of bounds because everyone else is doing it. We aren't ever called to partner with darkness.
2 John 1:12-13
John has serious concerns and much more to say. His joy can't be complete until there is a face-to-face visit. There is no good substitute for being physically present when we communicate.
The lady has an elect sister. Her children send greetings to the elect lady.
John touched many lives. Whether the lady is one person or a church or the children are her offspring or a group of believers, it doesn't matter. We see John's joy in fellowship with her and her children. We see his encouragement to them and his warning. All this is done in love, touching their lives with truth, boldly speaking it unashamedly.
Today in your life, what do we do with this. We receive the same joy, encouragement, and warning from John. And, we keep our walk. These things are also to be passed on by speaking boldly of the truth to the next generation. This happens in day-to-day conversations. As we walk with Christ, it happens without thinking because we are growing to become more like Him.
©2012 Doug Ford, Revised & edited 2020, 2024
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