Second John Introduction

1:1-6

Walking in Christ's Commandments to Avoid Compromise

This has been the center of John’s teaching in these 3 letters, we are children of God

Or, we are children of the world

To sum it up for John, he says God chose us, adopted us into His family so go live like it!!!!!

Now, in 2 John, he will emphasize the walk of an adopted child of God..

HOW IS YOUR WALK?

IN TRUTH?

OBEDIENCE?

LOVE?

2John

The date of the writing is hard to determine and the author has been questioned over the years

It is however well established and agreed that John the Apostle wrote 1John and these two letters

This letter ties closely with the first as it builds on principles established in 1John which leads us to believe that the letter was written AFTER 1John.

It is a logical follow-up to the first letter

Date of the writing is around 90-95 or for sure shortly after the circular letter of 1John..

It is the shortest book of the NT Both 2 & 3 John contain less then 300 Greek

letters.

It fits the typical writing of the day, 1 sheet of papyrus

This letter builds on, and in many areas directly references 1John

John sent the first letter and then someone probably asked him a specific question or brought a problem to his attention prompting the writing of this letter..

The problem of the Gnostics, Docetists and the followers of Cerinthus are still around

These secessionists haven’t given up They are still around even today

In its opening, 2John immediately brings controversy

And, in it’s teaching the letter addresses some very important issues for modern day Christians such as:

Should we or shouldn’t we “entertain” teachers of heresy within the confines of our home and when we entertain

is compromise the result??

Ryrie says that the main teaching of 2John is:

“walking in Christ’s commandments”

What needs to be added is:

(to) AVOID COMPROMISE..

2 John 1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but

also all who know the truth

When we studied 1John we characterized John as being very humble

He never wished to attract attention to himself

In his Gospel he called himself

“the apostle whom Jesus loved”

In 1John he never mentions his name

In this letter he simply calls himself the elder..

Here, in the opening is that opening controversy mentioned earlier:

who is the chosen lady and her children?

What do you think?

All the commentators agree on one principle which is:

It is either a woman or the Christian community metaphorically called the lady and her children

Lets consider both ideas, and then, you can choose the one you want!!

How can we understand it to be some lady that John knew why would he hide her identity?…

The Christians of the day were persecuted on two fronts Both the Jews and the pagans were out to get them

Remember, some were imprisoned, like John and some killed, like Stephen

So, because this letter is possibly intended for a specific person, probably carried by someone who knew her,

John could be cloaking her identity to protect her in the case that the courier is captured..

OR We can understand the Greek word for lady, kuria as a

proper name meaning “Cyria”

If that is the case, then the letter is written to a lady named “Cyria,” and the mystery is solved

But, since many believe that the Greek word simply means lady and that John would not refer to a person by

that title, we have the basis for the understanding that the letter is written to a local church..

But, why would John address a letter to the church in this manner?…

1st calling the church a lady is not an uncommon NT practice (IE 1Peter 5:13.)

2nd he may also be protecting the identity of the church

After all, where did NT churches’ meet?…

In peoples homes

Additionally, in the body of the letter there is evidence to support both theories

You choose, there is no eternal significance either way!!!

I believe that the letter was actually written to a lady who was very hospitable to traveling Christians (we will

develop this later) whom John was seeking to help with the warning that the letter contains

It could be both that the local church was meeting in her house, so it is to her and to the church!

(Did I say something about avoiding compromise???)

(1) whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

What does the phrase “in truth” mean?…

It seems to be a direct reference to the central belief or truth of Christianity

That being that Jesus is the Christ

Also, it is a direct reference to 1John 2:21-23..

1 John 2:21-23

21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 

22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 

23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 

So, this person is a believer, (or church) whom John probably knows

Or, maybe he doesn’t know

His point is that he shares with them the common bond we all share which is a faith in Christ and the spiritual

re-birth into the family of God

A further clarification lies in the statement:

and not only I, but also all who know the truth

This looks to be a direct reference to this ladies inclusion in the family of God (or again, the church’s)..

2 John 2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever

What do you get from “for the sake of?”… I think this is John’s purpose statement. He writes

because the truth is being compromised

The same truth that abides, (remember our word study, abide = to dwell, live ETC.) in us.

The living – eternal truth of Jesus Christ!

Is there any assurance for you in this verse?…

Sure, it says that Jesus Christ lives in us and will be with us eternally!!

This contradicts the teaching of the secessionists

(see-session-ists)

Christ lives in us eternally and for them…

Their world is passing away:

1 John 2:17

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God

lives forever..

2 John 3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son

of the Father, in truth and love.Here is the typical ending of the salutation for a letter of

this time-period. It always ends with a greeting

What do you think looks strange about this statement being used as a salutation?….

Wouldn’t you think that John would personalize this, even if sent to a church, wouldn’t he say “Grace, mercy and peace be with you?..

Remember; the secessionists are filling the minds of the locals with false doctrine

Did John have confidence in their ability to handle the false doctrine?..

Yes, 1John 2:12-14 and 2:20-21

1 John 2:21

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and

because no lie is of the truth. 

It is not an issue of a lack of confidence, John is taking the opportunity of this one page letter to reassure

them by stating this as a promise from God rather then a request to God..

And here is that promise, that reassurance:

Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the

Son of the Father

John makes it clear that there is assurance of grace, peace and mercy for them as well as all

believers, it is a fact not a request!!!!!

Why does he add the “truth and love” part?…

Again, the secessionists are teaching lies and treating other humans as inferior (hatred)

John takes an opportunity to counter the teaching within his salutation

At quick glance:

Lie = 1John 1:6, 8, 2:4, 21-22, 26 4:20

Hatred = 1John 2:9, 11, 3:13, 15, 4:20..

2 John 4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received

commandment to do from the Father.

If it is sent to a church, what does the some mean?...

Probably that a division had taken place in the church and the true believers had stood firm in their belief, while those who’s seed of salvation had fallen in the shallow

rocky soil had fallen away

If addressed to a lady, John could simply be commenting, as an encouragement, about those in her

family who had become believers..

What does it mean to “walk in the truth?”…

I think the answer lies in the remainder of the verse (commandment from the Father)

What commandment did we receive

noted in 1John 3?…

1 John 3:23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one

another as he commanded us.

So what is walking in the truth?…

Believing IN Jesus and our expressed, acted out love for one another..

2 John 5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one

which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

Where did we hear this commandment before?.. 1John 2:7

Why does John STRESS this “love one another theme”?…

Because it is one of the truest and most convincing tests of real Christianity (1John 2:9-11)

You can fake just about every part of belief – attend church, sing hymns, go to Bible study ETC. But, when it

comes to faking a genuine love for each other, that is real hard to do..

Where does John get the “from the beginning” statement?…

It has always been God’s plan that we love each other

Remember, God is love 1John 4:8.

Love is REQUIRED by God 1John 4:7

MANIFESTED in His Son John 3:16

GIVEN through the Holy Spirit 1John 4:13-15

And here COMMANDED from John

2 John 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just

as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

How do you know that someone is a true believer, based on what John has taught us?…

Lets review:

First, THE MORAL TEST

Then,THE SOCIAL OR LOVE TEST

Finally,THE DOCTRINAL TEST

Which one is used by John as the acid test to prove that we keep His commandments?…

The SOCIAL or LOVE Test

So if we are obedient to God’s commandments what is a KEY outward sign?...

Our LOVE for one another

Therefore, if we LOVE one another what does that say about us?…

We are keeping His commandments!!

Do you see the logic in this circle?..

Understand that God is stating quite clearly that we cannot have one without the other

If we are a true Christian we will keep His commandments

If we are a true Christian, we will love one another, which is a commandment!!!

How many times do you see command in 4-6?…

four

Do you get the idea that this love of one another is important??

So at this point the question is this:

“Do we show love for each other in our life?”

If not, then based on this verse and 1John 5:2 you may be one with whom the seed of the

gospel is either in rocky soil or is being choked out by the weeds..

There is an action taking place in our lives, mentioned in these 6 verses with three descriptions

First: what is the action?…

Walking

Second: how many different descriptions are there for our walk?…

3

Third: what are they?..

One = walking in the truth (4)

Two = obedience (6a)

Three = love (6b)

How is your walk, is it based on the truth, that Jesus is the Christ and your Savior?

Is it in obedience to His word?

Does it show genuine love for your fellow Christians?

At this point in the letter, John has given us His opening statements, or the Introduction, he has presented us with an exhortation – (encouragement about the new believers and encouragement to love each other).

Now he issues a Warning

(Coming next week)

In Summary:

Are we acting like God’s children?

Are we keeping God’s commandments?

Is our keeping of His commandments verified by our love for our fellow Christians?