2 John (NIV)
In the Apostle John’s letters to the church(es) we have learned that the early church had it’s hands full with false teachers and deceivers who distorted the truth. Here, in 2 John he is, again, addressing the heresy of the false teachers. Specifically the teaching that Christ did not actually come in the flesh. Yet these teachers claimed to be Christians, teaching the truths about Jesus’ life and death. John urged the believers to cling to the truth: Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The word truth is used five times in the first four verses. John’s message is clear: vigilantly guard against false teaching and persevere in the truth.
1 The elder,
This is most likely referencing the Apostle John, himself. The term elder references a church leader or one’s authority in the church. Here it probably means the latter.
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—
2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
The reference to the lady chosen may be a specific person or the phrase may be, and is most likely, a figurative description of the church; both Paul and John personified the church as female supports this as a description of the church. There are those who believe on both sides, yet it remains undecided.
John links love and truth when referring to his feelings for the lady chosen and those [believers] who know the truth. His second use of truth refers to the truth of the gospel he is teaching. God’s revelation, the clear teachings and commands of Scripture.
3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
We have seen this type of greeting, often from Paul, and the other Apostles writing these letters to the churches. John is pointing out that if we wish to experience God’s grace, mercy and peace we must commit ourselves to his truth and communicate his love. By saying that these blessings come from both the Father and the Son John affirms the deity of Jesus by stating his equality with God.
4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Walking in truth means having and exhibiting an authentic relationship with God. And our walk with the Lord, if genuine, must be based on his word, the Truth, and be revealed in our lives. John says as much when referring to the joy of finding some of the congregation walking in obedience to the Father. Our walk with God, specifically, must be based upon his commandment to love one another. God’s love is the basis of his desire for our obedience. This is the reason he revealed his will through his commandments in the word. We prove our obedience through our love of one another. Love is our unlimited resource and is our best tool for furthering the Gospel of Christ. John says we’ve heard this from the beginning, pointing out, once again, that these are letters to encourage the churches to stay the course of being obedient to walk in love.
7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
The many deceivers that John refers to in vs.7 is a consistent stumbling block to the Christians he has been teaching, and it remains so today. They subtly blur the truth about Jesus. We have discussed this many times in the readings of the epistles, false teachers have confused us with lies, with just the right amount of the truth to cloud our beliefs. John warns us that walking in truth means guarding against and rejecting the deceivers; calling them out as the antichrist. The deceivers do not acknowledge Jesus’ humanity, the fact that Jesus is man and God. The humanity of Jesus is a test by which false teachers can be identified. John wrote against this heresy in 1 John as well. People who deny the physical reality of Jesus are not Christians, but antichrists.
John also warns that being seduced by false teachers is a way to lose our reward at the judgement. John writes that the reason to guard against deceivers is so we do not to lose our reward, with this loss in mind.
Jesus warned the church at Philadelphia, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” Rev. 3:11
Every believer has the potential of a full reward or a complete loss of reward, “ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” 1 Cor. 3:15
John makes it clear that the determining factor here is our faithfulness to Christ and the truth.
9 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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
Running ahead, or too far ahead, alludes to those who consider themselves advanced beyond basic Christianity. This often causes a departure into doctrinal error or not continuing in the teach of Christ. Love for God means supporting his truth and rejecting those who stand against it.
Here the doctrinal error is disregarding that Jesus is God come in the flesh. Denying that he is completely human and completely divine.
A Christian should not only reject these false teachers and teachings, a Christian should also avoid appearing to endorse their teachings. The proper response and instruction John describes here is to reject them as unbelievers, showing just how serious the Scriptures are to be taken, and how careful we Christians should be in evaluating what we are taught and by who.
Verse 11 shows what welcoming a false teacher says about us, as individuals and as a church. When we welcome someone we are saying we identify with that individual, this can also refer to a church’s public welcome of a false teacher. It appears as though we agree with their teachings.
12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
In the closing of his second letter John expresses his desire to visit with them and talk with them in person. The reference to the children of your sister, who is chosen by God most likely represents the congregation of the church from which he writes this letter, as referenced in his opening greeting.
Footnotes:
a 2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts you
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