2nd John: I rejoiced that some of your children are walking in truth

Details
Parent Category: Division 7. Letters-James/Peter/John/Jude
Category: 1st John-Jude
  1. Overview
  2. Chapter & Audio
  3. Q&A

Overview

Second John emphasizes the importance of walking in truth and love.

John sends a greeting to the chosen lady and her children, expressing his love and joy in knowing that they are walking in truth.

He then warns them against deceivers and false teachers, urging them to be discerning, and to reject those who do not confess Jesus Christ, as coming in the flesh.

John encourages them to abide in the teachings that they have received, and to continue in love.

He concludes with a farewell message, expressing John's hope to visit them in person.

Bible Study/Commentary:

Verses 1-3: To those who walk in truth 

The chapter starts with a greeting from John, referring to himself as the elder.

He addresses the chosen lady and her children, expressing his love and joy in knowing that they are walking in truth.

John highlights the love he has, for all who know the truth, which abides in them forever.

Verses 4-6: The New Commandment, to love one another 

John expresses his joy, in finding some of the chosen lady's children, walking in truth, in accordance with the commandment they received from the beginning.

This is the New Commandment, "to love one another!"

John reminds the recipients that this is the commandment they have heard from the beginning, and encourages them to continue walking in it.

Verses 7-11: John warns against deceivers, who deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh 

He describes them as antichrists, and deceivers.

John advises them not to receive or welcome such deceivers into their homes, for doing so would share in their sins.

He affirms that those who go beyond the teachings of Christ, do not have God.

John urges them to remain faithful, to what they have heard from the beginning, so that they may receive a full reward.

Verses 12-13: The chapter concludes with a farewell message from John 

He expresses his hope to visit them in person, and states that he has many things to write to them.

However, he prefers to speak face to face, so that their joy may be full.

Overall Summary:

Second John emphasizes the importance, of walking in truth, and love.

The chapter commends the chosen lady, and her children, for their commitment to the truth, and their love for one another.

John warns against deceivers and false teachers, urging the recipients to be discerning, and to reject those who deny Jesus Christ, as coming in the flesh.

The chapter encourages them to abide in the teachings that they have received, and to continue in love.

It emphasizes the commandment to love one another, and cautions against going beyond the teachings of Christ.

The chapter concludes with a farewell message, expressing John's hope to visit them in person.

The overall message is a call, to remain steadfast in the truth, and to walk in love, guarding against the deception of false teachers.

2  John

Greeting

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

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

Walking in Truth and Love

4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Final Greetings

12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

Q&A

  1. a. Who is this letter to? 1:1
    b. How did John feel about these believers? 1:1
    c. Who else loved them? 1:1
    d. What abides in us? 1:2
    e. How long will the truth be with us? 1:2
    f. What does John say will be with us? 1:3
    g. In what two ways will grace, mercy and peace be with us? 1:3
    • 1 The Elder,
      To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,
    • 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
      3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
  2. a. What made John rejoice greatly? 1:4
    b. What have we received from the Father? 1:4
    c. What commandment was John pleading that we do? 1:5
    • 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.
    • 5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
  3. a. What is love? 1:6
    b. When did this commandment come? 1:6
    • 6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
  4. a. Who had gone out into the world? 1:7
    b. What do they not confess about Jesus? 1:7
    c. Who does John call these deceivers? 1:7
    d. Why did John tell them to look out for themselves? 1:8
    e. What did John hope to receive? 1:8
    • 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
    • 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
  5. a. What does anyone who does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, not have? 1:9
    b. Who has both the Father and the Son? 1:9
    c. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, what are you not to do? 1:10
    d. If you greet them, what do you share in? 1:11
    • 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
    • 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
    • 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
  6. a. How did John not want to share many things with them? 1:12
    b. Why did he hope to share with them face to face? 1:12
    c. Who sent their greetings? 1:13
    • 12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
      13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.