2 John 1: Walking in Truth

Resources:

• 2 John Reading Guide
• 2 John Teaching Notes
• 2 John Video

Overview:

• 2 John is the shortest book in the Bible and has one chapter. This letter features only 13 verses.
• John is pleased to see that some believers are sticking to the truth, but this implies that others are not. John is concerned over the influence of false teachers, using strong terms to reject their teachings. John’s reference to ”the elect lady and her children” is probably a reference to an entire local church and its members.
• The Second Epistle of John, often referred to as 2 John, builds on the themes introduced in 1 John, especially focusing on truth, love, and vigilance against false teachings.
• Here are the key points of 2 John and how it builds on John’s first letter:
  • 2 John 1:1-4: John begins by emphasizing the importance of walking in the truth. He rejoices greatly to find that some of the recipients are walking in the truth, just as they were commanded by the Father.
  • 2 John 1:5-6: John reminds the recipients of the commandment to love one another. He reiterates that this is not a new commandment, but one they have had from the beginning. Walking in love means walking according to God’s commandments.
• Walking in Truth and Love
  • Building on 1 John:
    • In 1 John, John emphasized the connection between obedience, love, and truth. He taught that keeping God’s commandments, loving fellow believers, and believing in Jesus are tests of genuine faith. In 2 John, he reaffirms these principles, stressing the importance of continuing to walk in truth and love.
  • 2 John 1:7: John warns about many deceivers who have gone out into the world, denying that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Such a person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
  • 2 John 1:8-9: He urges the recipients to watch themselves so they do not lose what they have worked for but may receive a full reward. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
• Warning Against Deceivers
  • Building on 1 John:
    • In 1 John, John warned against false teachings and provided criteria for discerning true and false spirits. He identified specific false teachings and emphasized the importance of adhering to the truth about Jesus’ incarnation. In 2 John, he reiterates the danger of deceivers and underscores the need for vigilance and faithfulness to the true teaching of Christ.
  • 2 John 1:10-11: John advises against showing hospitality to anyone who comes with a false teaching. He warns that anyone who welcomes such a person shares in their wicked work.
• Instructions on Hospitality
  • 2 John 1:10-11: John advises against showing hospitality to anyone who comes with a false teaching. He warns that anyone who welcomes such a person shares in their wicked work.
  • Building on 1 John:
    • While 1 John does not directly address hospitality, it emphasizes the importance of truth and love in the community. In 2 John, John applies this principle by instructing believers to avoid supporting or endorsing false teachers, thereby protecting the community from deception.
• Closing Remarks
  • 2 John 1:12-13: John expresses his desire to visit the recipients and talk with them face to face to complete their joy. He sends greetings from the children of their chosen sister.
  • Building on 1 John:
    • The closing remarks of 2 John reflect John’s pastoral care and his commitment to personal fellowship with the believers. This echoes the tone of encouragement and unity found throughout 1 John.
• 2nd and 3rd John are the shortest books in the New Testament.

Notes on the video:

• v1: This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth — as does everyone else who knows the truth — 
  • John describes himself as an elder since he is at an advanced age when he wrote this. Likely written in AD 90 – AD 95.
  • In 2 John the focus is on the false teachers who are taking advantage of Christian hospitality and kindness.
  • Romans 12:13 tells us to share with the saints in their needs and open up our home to provide hospitality.
  • Who is the elect lady and her children? The elect lady may represent the local church and the children represent the congregation. It also could literally be  a local woman and her family.
• v2: because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.
  • Jesus is the truth and He is always with us.
• v3: Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ — the Son of the Father — will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.
  • John explains how we are walking in the truth of Christ’s teachings.
• v4: How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.
  • John is happy to see some men walking in the truth of Christ.
  • This implies some of them men were not yet walking with Christ.
• v5: I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 
  • We love because He first loved us.
  • We must love everyone as He loves us.
• v6: Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.
  • They apparently weren’t getting this point because John keeps emphasizing it.
• v7: I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. 
  • Mark 13:22-23 tell us false teachers will lead us astray if we’re not careful.
  • 1 Timothy 4:1-4 tells us how false teachers will mislead us if we’re not careful.
  • We must protect the truth by putting limits on our hospitality – we must not provide hospitality to false teachers that will mislead us. We must guard against false evangelists who may come to our door to lead us astray (e.g. Jehovah Witnesses and others).
• v8: Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. 
  • We must be on guard in our faith so we are not misled and lose our full reward.
• v9: Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.
  • We must protect the truth by abiding in the truth.
  • The Bible has 66 books – some religions add to these books. We must not go beyond the 66 books of the Bible.
• v10: If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 
  • Do not welcome people into your home that are preaching a false religion
  • 1 Timothy 3:2 tells us to open up our home unless it is to a false teacher.
• v11: Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.
  • Opening our homes to false teachers such as Jehovah Witnesses, LDS, Muslims, and more gives the impression that heretical teaching is OK. We run the risk of becoming infected and conformed by the world when we welcome false teachers into our homes.
  • When we open our homes to false teachers we are sharing in their misleading works.
• v12: I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.
  • John wants to meet directly with his readers to speak with them instead of merely writing to them.
• v13: Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God.

Group Discussion:

• I used to have LDS people that lived down the hall from my apartment. I let them in once to share my perspectives with them about being a Christian and how it differed from their LDS beliefs. Should I not have been engaging in this behavior? I was trying to share my faith with them so that they might experience the love and peace I found in Jesus.

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