2 John 1:1-13    (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)

Hi GAMErs!

Today we’re looking at one of the shortest books in the Bible: it’s 2 John, a letter which is widely believed to be written by the apostle John and written around the same time as 1 John (many scholars say about early 60s AD).   Let’s go!

2 John 1:1 (NIV) 
1  The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth–and not I only, but also all who know the truth–

On verse 1:  Who is this “chosen lady” that John is writing to?  Many scholars believe that this chosen lady was not an individual but a church community.  This is supported by the fact that there are no proper names given for this chosen lady, John refers to this lady not just in the singular but also in the plural, and the church is called the “bride of Christ” in the New Testament.  Similarly, “your chosen sister” (v13) is probably referring to another church community from which John is writing his letter.

Since this was a time of heavy persecution of Christians, “chosen lady” and “your chosen sister” may have been secret code words to keep this letter from being detected by persecutors of Christians.

2 John 1:2 (NIV)
2  because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

On verse 2:  “The truth” John is referring to, who “lives in us and will be with us forever”, is Jesus Christ.  Jesus Himself says, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).  For Christians, truth is not just a principle; truth is a Person.  His name is Jesus.

2 John 1:3-13 (NIV)
3  Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
4  It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
5  And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
6  And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
7  Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8  Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
9  Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.
11  Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
12  I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13  The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.

On verses 3-13:  Some of the big lessons from 1 John are also touched on here in 2 John:

  • Affirmation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (v3)
  • How God commands us to love one another (v5)
  • How true love is about obeying God’s commands (v6)
  • Warnings about false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Son of God who came to this earth in the flesh (v7-11)
  • That if you don’t have Christ you don’t have God, but if you have Christ you have God the Father as well (v9)
Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ, like a code word, as a message about Yourself to us.  Thank You that by Your Spirit and by Your grace we can decipher that code and understand the parable that You are speaking about who You are, whereas others may miss Your message.   Thank You Jesus for being the way, the truth and the life, who lives in us and will be with us forever.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

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