Book 24 - JOHN'S SECOND
LETTER
With people,
places, definitions ......
Writer: The apostle John, towards the end of his life
Date: c AD90-100
Where written: Ephesus
Readers: Either a Christian lady and her family, or symbolically a church and its members
Why: Whether written to a church or a family, it encourages them to live in love, and warns against false teachers
According to Some Modern Scholarship: Written by the author of the First Letter, or by another elder of the church in Ephesus
GREETINGS IN LOVE AND TRUTH
2 John v1-3 - This letter comes from the Elder to a certain Christian lady and her children, held in the highest affection not only by me but by all who know the truth. For the truth's sake (which even now we know and which will be our companion for ever) I wish you, in all love and sincerity, grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father's Son.
OBEDIENCE TO GOD MEANS REAL LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
2 John v4-6 - I was overjoyed to find some of your children living the life of truth, as the Father himself instructed us. I beg you now, dear lady, not as though I were issuing any new order but simply reminding you of the original one, to see that we continue to love one another. Real love means obeying the Father's orders, and you have known from the beginning that you must live in obedience to him.
DON'T WELCOME THOSE WHO DENY CHRIST BECAME A MAN; FOLLOW CHRIST'S TEACHING
2 John v7-11 - For the world is becoming full of impostors - men who will not admit that Jesus the Christ really became man. ....
- A major heresy known as "docetism". Unless God became man in Jesus Christ, the Gospel becomes meaningless. Then, as Paul taught in 1 Corinthians (15:19b), those of us who believe in Jesus Christ "should, of all mankind, be the most to be pitied!". The true humanity of Jesus can be seen throughout the Gospels, especially in his distress in the Garden of Gethsemane, and his hurt at the disciple's behaviour before his arrest -
.... Now this (denying the humanity of Jesus) is the very spirit of deceit and is anti-Christ. Take care of yourselves; don't throw away all the labour that has been spent on you, but persevere till God gives you your reward.
Have nothing to do with false teachers
The man who is so "advanced" that he is not content with what Christ taught. has in fact no God. The man who bases his life on Christ's teaching, however, has both the Father and the Son as his God. If any teacher comes to you who is disloyal to what Christ taught, don't have him inside your house. Don't even wish him "God-speed", unless you want to share in the evil that he is doing.
JOHN'S PLAN TO VISIT; HIS FAREWELL
2 John v12-13 - I have a lot that I could write to you, but somehow I find it hard to put down on paper. I hope to come and see you personally, and we will have a heart-to-heart talk together - and how we shall enjoy that! Your sister's children send their love.
JOHN
on to Third John with "people, places etc ..." OR back to J B Phillips with Notes