The Second Epistle of
JOHN
Author: The Apostle John
Date: About A.D. 90
Theme: Warning About False Teachers
Key Words: Love, Truth
Author and Recipients. Although the early testimony concerning the authorship of 2 and 3 John is not as strong as that of 1 John, they are nevertheless linked with John by the vocabulary and general subject matter. John addresses this second epistle to “the elect lady and her children,” indicating that the recipient was a hospitable Christian mother whose children persevere in the faith (v. 4). John even includes greetings from her nieces and nephews (v. 13). From the designation John gives her in verse 1 (Greek eklekte kyria), many commentators have speculated concerning her personal name, suggesting titles such as “the elect Kyria,” “the lady Electa,” and “Electa Kyria.” Others suggest that the designation does not denote an individual at all, but is the personification of a local church. “Her children” are the members of that church, and “the children” of her “elect sister” are the members of the local church in the place from which John is writing. A definite conclusion seems unattainable, and the question remains open.
Date. The weight of evidence that John wrote all three epistles bearing his name points to about A.D. 90, shortly after 1 John was written.
Occasion and Purpose. Second John is concerned with the relation of Christian truth to hospitality extended to those teachers traveling from church to church. Such hospitality was often abused. False teachers, probably from the same group that is the subject of 1 John, were confusing the fellowship of believers. John therefore gave instructions concerning which itinerant teachers to welcome and which to refuse. Genuine Christians, who could be recognized by the orthodoxy of their message (v. 10), are worthy of aid; but heretical teachers, especially those who denied the Incarnation (v. 7), are to be rejected. John also commends “the elect lady” for walking in the truth.
Content. John encourages “the elect lady” to continue showing hospitality, but he also warns and guards against the abuse of Christian fellowship. Throughout the epistle he stresses truth as the basis and test of fellowship. In particular, he insists on a correct belief regarding the incarnation of Christ, and charges that those who reject this reality have gone beyond the doctrine of Christ (v. 9). He urges readers of the letter to keep close to Christ by abiding in the truth.
Personal Application. John’s message is timeless in that seductive teachings continue to threaten the doctrinal stability of the church. The epistle reminds us to receive Jesus as the Son of God, not as a son of God or as a powerful god. John warns about those who advance beyond the doctrine of Christ, accepting new teachings and leaving apostolic doctrine behind (v. 9). To receive such people is to be identified with their evil (v. 11) and to run the risk of losing the faith (v. 8).
Christ Revealed. John presents both the deity of Christ (v. 3) and His humanity (v. 7). Anyone who denies the fundamental truth concerning the divine-human Person of Christ does not have God (v. 9). John views fellowship as a distinctive feature of the Christian life, but he leaves no doubt that biblical fellowship is impossible where the apostolic doctrine of the Person and work of Christ is denied or compromised.
The Holy Spirit at Work. Although the epistle does not specifically mention the Holy Spirit, His ministry is evident, particularly in bearing witness to the truth concerning the Person of Christ. The Spirit enables the true believer to discern false teachings and to “abide in the doctrine of Christ.”
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
JOHN
Author: The Apostle John
Date: About A.D. 90
Theme: Warning About False Teachers
Key Words: Love, Truth
Author and Recipients. Although the early testimony concerning the authorship of 2 and 3 John is not as strong as that of 1 John, they are nevertheless linked with John by the vocabulary and general subject matter. John addresses this second epistle to “the elect lady and her children,” indicating that the recipient was a hospitable Christian mother whose children persevere in the faith (v. 4). John even includes greetings from her nieces and nephews (v. 13). From the designation John gives her in verse 1 (Greek eklekte kyria), many commentators have speculated concerning her personal name, suggesting titles such as “the elect Kyria,” “the lady Electa,” and “Electa Kyria.” Others suggest that the designation does not denote an individual at all, but is the personification of a local church. “Her children” are the members of that church, and “the children” of her “elect sister” are the members of the local church in the place from which John is writing. A definite conclusion seems unattainable, and the question remains open.
Date. The weight of evidence that John wrote all three epistles bearing his name points to about A.D. 90, shortly after 1 John was written.
Occasion and Purpose. Second John is concerned with the relation of Christian truth to hospitality extended to those teachers traveling from church to church. Such hospitality was often abused. False teachers, probably from the same group that is the subject of 1 John, were confusing the fellowship of believers. John therefore gave instructions concerning which itinerant teachers to welcome and which to refuse. Genuine Christians, who could be recognized by the orthodoxy of their message (v. 10), are worthy of aid; but heretical teachers, especially those who denied the Incarnation (v. 7), are to be rejected. John also commends “the elect lady” for walking in the truth.
Content. John encourages “the elect lady” to continue showing hospitality, but he also warns and guards against the abuse of Christian fellowship. Throughout the epistle he stresses truth as the basis and test of fellowship. In particular, he insists on a correct belief regarding the incarnation of Christ, and charges that those who reject this reality have gone beyond the doctrine of Christ (v. 9). He urges readers of the letter to keep close to Christ by abiding in the truth.
Personal Application. John’s message is timeless in that seductive teachings continue to threaten the doctrinal stability of the church. The epistle reminds us to receive Jesus as the Son of God, not as a son of God or as a powerful god. John warns about those who advance beyond the doctrine of Christ, accepting new teachings and leaving apostolic doctrine behind (v. 9). To receive such people is to be identified with their evil (v. 11) and to run the risk of losing the faith (v. 8).
Christ Revealed. John presents both the deity of Christ (v. 3) and His humanity (v. 7). Anyone who denies the fundamental truth concerning the divine-human Person of Christ does not have God (v. 9). John views fellowship as a distinctive feature of the Christian life, but he leaves no doubt that biblical fellowship is impossible where the apostolic doctrine of the Person and work of Christ is denied or compromised.
The Holy Spirit at Work. Although the epistle does not specifically mention the Holy Spirit, His ministry is evident, particularly in bearing witness to the truth concerning the Person of Christ. The Spirit enables the true believer to discern false teachings and to “abide in the doctrine of Christ.”
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
