2John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2John 1:2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
John addresses himself (whom he identifies as the elder) to the “elect lady” and her children. When John uses the term elder to identify himself, I think it is a statement of his qualification to be able to give advice with authority based on his spiritual maturity. According to commentators, he was probably around 90 years of age when he wrote this epistle.
As I read through this letter, it seems to me that he is addressing a friend, a sister in Christ (i.e., elect). He talks about her children, his love for her as a Christian sister, and the fact that he hopes to visit her “face to face.” He loves her “in the truth,” the truth being based on the teachings of Jesus. Then he emphasizes that this is a love in the Lord just like she is loved by other believers.
John goes on to emphasize that this love is possible only because of the truth that Christ taught. Love originates from God; and as believers, this love will be a part of our being forever.
Guzik: “John probably did not name himself, the elect lady or her children by name because this was written during a time of persecution. Perhaps John didn’t want to implicate anyone by name in a written letter. If the letter was intercepted and the authorities knew who it was written to by name, it might mean death for those persons.”
2John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
John pronounces a blessing over the recipients of the letter. He wishes them grace, mercy and peace—all ours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, emphasizing that Jesus is the Son of God the Father. I’ve always understood grace as “being given something you don’t deserve” (e.g., the gift of salvation) and mercy as “not being given what you do deserve” (e.g., eternal judgment for your sin). Peace is a mixture of things to me—lack of anxiety based on trust in the Lord, contentment, security….. Because these blessings are based on God’s truth and love, they aren’t possibilities—they are sure blessings for the believer who is striving to please God.
Good observations from Stedman re sharing the gospel in truth and love: “Many of us emphasize one, at the expense of the other. We may emphasize truth and center upon doctrinal matters, insisting that the Scriptures be followed carefully, but at the expense of love. When we do this, we are rigid and cold and judgmental….On the other hand, there are those of us who make the mistake of emphasizing love at the expense of truth. They feel that we should accept everyone and everything, being tolerant in all directions….Now the problem is to keep truth and love in balance.”
2John 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
John refers to the joy he felt upon hearing that the testimony of her children was one of walking according to the commands of the Father. We should always rejoice when we see fellow believers around us growing and walking with the Lord.
2John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
John wants this lady to know that his reason for writing is not to tell her anything new, but to reinforce a foundational teaching (one of the very first things you are taught)—that we love one another. This truth was taught from the very beginning.
Leviticus 19:18 “…thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
Notice the use of the word “beseech.” This word reflects an urgent desire in his request. Maybe this implies that he is addressing a particular problem involving her and some of the other members of her church family.
2John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
John goes on to define what this love is—walking in obedience to the commands of the LORD. From the very beginning God commanded us to love one another. More than that—we are to “walk in love.” Our walk, our way of life should be one of continual forward progress in love—selfless concern for others; looking and acting towards others as Christ would see them and treat them. It is one of the primary evidences of our faith before the world.
John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
2John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Next. John warns his friend of the deceivers who have gone out into the world, those who would mislead others about the truth. These deceivers do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came in the flesh to live as a man. Another name for these false teachers is antichrist. The Greek for “antichrist” specifically states, “an opponent of the Messiah.”
2John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
John warns his friend not to lose what she has worked for--referencing heavenly rewards, not salvation. God has promised rewards for believers who prove themselves to be overcome in different areas. He wants her to enjoy the fruits of her full reward (the best and most she can earn).
2John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
The person who continues in sin and doesn’t live according to the doctrine of Jesus Christ doesn’t possess true faith in God.
1John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
The NIV uses the term “runs ahead and does not continue.” That makes a good point to me. Running is at a much faster pace than walking. One who is running doesn’t take the time to be as careful or observant as one who walks. One who walks is able to avoid “potholes” in the road, to better heed instructions along the way, and to absorb the beauty and truth around him. That is why we should strive to “walk with Christ” day by day. If one tries to “run ahead,” he is more likely to stray from the path and fall into an ambush by one of the spiritual forces of evil. They are ever ready to use our own weaknesses to deceive us.
A true believer is one who continues (abideth) in the teaching of the Father and the Son. This doesn’t mean that we will never sin; it just means that we won’t continue in sin.
Stedman: “There are many people today who say that the teachings of the Scriptures are infantile. Modern man has grown beyond all this and can no longer accept these simplistic teachings of the Bible. The modern mind must find satisfaction in more scientific approaches. It cannot rest upon these simple things. Do you see that that is another example of exactly what John is talking about here? Someone who goes beyond, departs from the revelation of Jesus, considering it too simple, and tries to add something to the teachings of the Word of God."
2John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Now John warns his friend to be careful not to welcome false teachers into her home. Maybe she had the gift of hospitality and was the type who expected the best from people. Maybe John was warning her that she needed to carefully exercise discernment.
When you welcome and give support to a false teacher, you are actual taking part in their “evil deeds.”
This is one of the areas in which I think the church today has gotten quite lax. When we receive people into our home (or church), it is like giving them our stamp of approval. We need to be oh so careful as to our testimony and how it impacts others, especially new believers and those that are still spiritually immature.
2John 1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
John evidently feels he has said enough for the time being. He writes that he has much more to convey to her, but he wants to come visit and talk with her “face to face.” That will make their joy complete. Writing is fine, but there’s nothing like fellowship in the company of one you care about and being able to share personally the things that are important to you.
It gives me pause to know I will one day actually see the Lord “face to face.” To feel the security and assurance that never again will I struggle with sin or doubts or inconsistency in my life. To know that my responses will always be what they should be—to know I’ll always make the right choices. To know that I have pure motives and not have to be suspicious of the motives of those around me. To be full of joy and praise for the love of the Savior and never concerned if I’m going to “turn someone off” by expressing that feeling at any time. The thought of that first meeting carries a bit of shame as well; because even though He “remembers our sin no more” and I am seen through the cleansing power of the shed blood of Jesus, I will remember. Then I can’t wait for that first hug that I am positive will completely put me at ease in His presence for the rest of eternity. COME LORD JESUS!!
2John 1:13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
John closes by sending greetings from the children of her sister in Christ. These children could be physical or spiritual and the sister could represent another church just as the person addressed could be a church. It just seems to be more personal to me.