2 John chapter 1

John the Evangelist greets the chosen Lady and her children. He urges them to believe that Jesus Christ had a real body and was not just a spirit.

 


 

GREETINGS

 

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

the chosen lady. The “chosen lady” might be a person. Or she might be the church.

and her children. If “the chosen lady” is the church, these would be the members of the church.

whom I love. Christian leaders need to love their people. That is the foundation.

 

VERSE 2. for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:

for the truth’s sake. A Christian leader is motivated by the truths of the Christian revelation.

In those days, two heretical movements had arisen within among believers:

  • Docetism
  • Gnosticism

Both saw “physical” as bad and “spirit” as good. Both claimed that Jesus was only a spirit. They insisted God would not stoop to the level of our material realm.

John the Evangelist is writing about the truth that Jesus Christ was a flesh-and-blood bodily human, and not just a spirit.

be with us forever:

Matthew 28:20. “teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

 

VERSE 3. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

NIV translation. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

be with us. John the Evangelist speaks at the level of his reader, as a fellow believer. He does not speak down to them as a power-figure.

and from Jesus Christ. Divine blessings do not exclusively emanate from God the Father. They also emanate from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

LIVE IN THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

 

VERSE 4. I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Second Letter of John and from the entire Bible.

some of your children. Only “some” of the people in the church were walking in the truth.

That seems to be true of every congregation. The “wheat” and the “weeds” exist simultaneously.

walking in truth. The Lord Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life. We don’t know of any other person in world history who has claimed to be those things. Read more »

 

VERSE 5. Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

love one another. The Lord Jesus Christ gives us a new command. It is that we love one another. Read more »

 

VERSE 6. This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

This is love. If we love the LORD God, we will obey his commandments.

walk according to his commandments. What are the commands of Jesus Christ?

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

 

VERSE 7. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.

deceivers have gone out. John the Evangelist is referring to the two heretical movements that had arisen within among believers:

  • Docetism
  • Gnosticism

Both saw “physical” as bad and “spirit” as good. Both claimed that Jesus was only a spirit. They insisted God would not stoop to the level of our material realm.

John the Evangelist is writing about the truth that Jesus Christ was a flesh-and-blood bodily human, and not just a spirit.

Those deceivers were asking for financial support.

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The Word of God leapt down from the realm of eternity. He became human and pitched his tent among us. He lived among us here on the earth. Read more »

 

VERSE 8. Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.

don’t lose the things. If we embrace an heretical teaching, we will lose the good things we have in Jesus Christ.

 

VERSE 9. Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

NABRE translation. Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.

doesn’t remain in the teaching. John the Evangelist says if we do not remain in the teaching of Jesus Christ, we do NOT have God.

What does he mean?

  • Such a person was never ever saved?
  • People can lose their eternal salvation?

remains in the teaching. If we follow the teachings of Christ, we are among his people.

 

VERSE 10. If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,

doesn’t bring this teaching. That is, anyone who does not believe Jesus Christ was a flesh-and-blood physical human.

 

VERSE 11. for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.

 

CONCLUSION

 

VERSE 12. Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you, and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.

that our joy may be made full. The Christian revelation is meant to give JOY!

 

VERSE 13. The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.

 


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2 JOHN

CHAPTERS: 01

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.