From 2 John

Believers are to hold fast to the teachings of Christ in the gospel which command them to love one another. What does loving one another look like in your church? The elder also makes the doctrinal point that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Believers in Christ must understand Jesus to be fully human as well as fully God. The elder prefers to speak to the church in person. This says a lot about our age of email and blogs. Emails can be written poorly. Blogs are second best to face to face communication.

This post is part of my bible in a year series.

Passage and Comments

Today we will be looking at the entire letter of 2 John. All thirteen verses of it. The passage begins with the author introducing himself as the ‘elder’. The term communicates his authority over the church community. He is writing to the ‘elect lady’ and her ‘children’. This is a cryptic way of referring to the church (cf. Eph 5.23-24) and its believers.

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. (2 Jn 1–3)

The elder ‘loves in truth’ the church and its community of believers. He is not the only one, everyone who ‘knows the truth’ loves the church and its community of believers as well.

What is the truth he is speaking about?

Love springs from the ‘truth’. People can know the ‘truth’. The ‘truth’ abides in people forever. These themes are strongly connected to the person of Jesus and his commands in John’s theology (Jn 14.6-7; 15.4-17).

The word we translate as “grace” is characteristic of Greek greetings but has taken on a new meaning with the two other terms and in relation to the characteristically Christian understanding of the grace of God. If “grace” comes from the Greek world, “mercy and peace” are characteristically Jewish. In their company “grace” takes on a new sense but appears only in the opening greeting. It is not only by associating grace with mercy and peace that a distinctive Christian sense is given. These gifts are from the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. (Painter, J. (2003). 1, 2, and 3 John. In J. D. G. Dunn & J. W. Rogerson (Eds.), Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (p. 1525). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.)

4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (2 Jn 4–6)

The elder is grateful to find some of the children walking in the truth. He refers to the gospel and the way of life Jesus commands in it. In the gospel, Jesus commands his followers to love one another (Jn 13.34; 15.12).

The elder says loving God and being loved by him will always be followed by walking according to his commandments.

Since he says ‘some’ we should expect there are others who are not ‘walking in the truth’.

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. (2 Jn 7–11)

There are some who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh (cf. 1 Jn 4.2). ‘Here once more “flesh” (σαρκί) is a synecdoche for His incarnation, including His birth, life, death, and resurrection, His sharing of humanity.’ (Derickson, G. W. (2012). First, Second, and Third John. (H. W. House, W. H. Harris III, & A. W. Pitts, Eds.) (2 Jn 7). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)

They are called the ‘antichrist’. Perhaps they think he was a spirit, an angel or God. Worse, they try and deceive others as well. They have not abided in the teaching of Christ. Love and truth go hand in hand in John’s theology.

The elder recognises Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Jesus is fully man. This is part of the teaching of Christ.

It requires perseverance on the part of the Saints to keep believing Jesus Christ came in the flesh in order they may be rewarded in the end. The reward is eternal life. Believers are meant to refuse this sort of heretic hospitality. If they do they only assist them in their deception and rejection of the Christ.

12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you. (2 Jn 12–13)

The elder prefers to speak to the church in person. This accounts for the brevity of the letter and if we assume most of the apostles thought this way, the lack of material in the New Testament. They preferred to speak in person to their audiences.

He anticipates the ‘joy’ they will have when they are together. The term indicates what it is like when brothers and sisters in Christ are like minded and stand together in unity.

For Believers

Believers are to hold fast to the teachings of Christ in the gospel which command them to love one another.

What does loving one another look like in your church?

The elder also makes the doctrinal point that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Believers in Christ must understand Jesus to be fully human as well as fully God.

The elder prefers to speak to the church in person. This says a lot about our age of email and blogs. Emails can be written poorly. Blogs are second best to face to face communication.

Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2015. All Rights Reserved.