Our Savior Lutheran Church

Open It

1. Who is someone to whom you have written recently?

2. Why is starting something (an exercise program, for example) relatively easy, while continuing it is usually more difficult?

Explore It

The short length of both 2 and 3 John, as well as the relative neglect of these books by the early church, add to their interest. These are the two shortest books in the New Testament, each containing less than 250 Greek words. Many of the themes discussed in detail in 1 John appear in these letters. A look at the issues of authorship, recipients, date, purpose, and structure will assist in understanding these letters. These issues will be discussed for both letters before the commentary is given on 2 and 3 John separately.

Authorship of 2 and 3 John

The external evidence for authorship of both of these letters is much less than for 1 John. Their canonicity was questioned in the early period of church history, as they were listed among the “disputed letters.” However, no early Christian writer attributed the authorship of 2 and 3 John to anyone other than the apostle John.

The internal evidence lends support to Johannine authorship. Both the vocabulary and general themes of the letters are similar to 1 John. For example, the reality of Christ “having come in the flesh” (1 John 4:2; 2 John 7) and the importance of obedience to verify that one is a child of God (1 John 3:10; 3 John 11) are also important in these letters.

The author identified himself in both of these letters with the phrase “the elder.” Although this can lend support to John as the author, it has also been the point of much debate against Johannine authorship. Yet, this would not be the first time that an apostle referred to himself as an elder (1 Peter 5:1). It was probably John’s way of referring to his advanced age as well as his authoritative3 position among the churches of Ephesus.

Recipients and Origination of 2 and 3 John

In both letters a recipient is named. In 2 John the letter is written to “the chosen lady and her children” (v.1). Again, who this refers to specifically is uncertain. Some scholars view this as a title of a personal friend of John’s. Others see it as a personification designating a local congregation of believers. The latter seems the best interpretation for several reasons: the language of love and command given to love in verse 5 seems inappropriate for an individual; there are no explicit personal references such as those found in 3 John; the writer switches between “you” singular and “you” plural often in the letter (unobservable in most modern translations) while being consistent with the singular in 3 John; and it was normal to personify towns or institutions in the first century much as we do today.

The third letter of John was written to “Gaius” (v.1). He appears to have been a leading member of a local church. Exactly where Gaius lived is unknown, but it was probably around Ephesus, where John continued to live and write these two letters.

Date of the writing of 2 and 3 John

The date for a solid conviction on the date of the writing of either of these letters is vague. Again, as with 1 John, it appears best to place them after John’s Gospel because of content. How they related to 1 John is difficult to determine. It appears best to seem them as written after 1 John, possibly even sent together with it in a bundle. The referral to “the antichrist” in 2 John 7 without a more detailed discussion (see 1 John 2:18-23) seems to suggest this followed that letter in time. These were probably written shortly after 1 John or at the same time as 1 John (ca. A.D. 85-95).

The Purposes of 2 and 3 John

John did not explicitly state a purpose in either of these two letters as he did in his Gospel and in his first letter. However, it appears that 2 John was written to warn against showing hospitality to false teachers (v. 10). This would have assisted the spread of errant doctrine. Intertwined in this discussion is John’s teaching of the correct doctrines and actions of true believers.

Third John appears to be John’s effort to confront a church problem by encouraging Gaius (vv. 2-8) and Demetrius (v.12), discussing the problems caused by Diotrephes (vv. 9-11), and setting up an upcoming personal visit (vv. 13-14). Diotrephes had not welcomed the itinerant Christian teachers with the proper hospitality and had discouraged others from dong so. Therefore, 2 John and 3 John have the same background and similar purposes. Second John is more negative and 3 John is more positive on the issue of Christian hospitality.

The Structure of 2 and 3 John

The structure of both of these letters is quite simple. They both contain the elements of a traditional first-century letter (except 3 John omits a formal greeting). Each letter would probably fit on a single sheet of papyrus as a normal letter. Each has a simple outline.

3. To whom was this letter addressed? (1:1)

John’s introduction to this letter is in the typical pattern of ancient letters. He mentioned the sender and the recipients and gave a greeting. John identified himself as “the elder” (v.1). This could be an official title or simply a designation of his age. The “chosen late and her children” are the addressees of the letter. This was John’s way of addressing a specific church and its members.

After mentioning the recipients, John gave a long qualification about the church (“whom” of v.1, masculine in Greek, refers to the lady and the children). First, he said he loved them in “the truth,” which means in sincerity. Second, he declared that all the believers loved this church as well. “Truth” at the end of verse 1 is the revelation of Christ in the gospel of Christ Himself. Therefore, to know this truth is to be a true believer. The love for this church was as broad as the community of faith. Finally, the reason for this love was because the truth was in them. This was not some fanciful or fickle type of love.

4. Who wrote this letter? Why? (1:1-2)

5. What unique characteristic do Christians have? (1:2)

In John’s description of the truth within them (v.2), he struck a wonderful not of security. The truth is said to be a present, indwelling reality (“which lives in us”) that will continue forever (“and will be with us forever”). The “with us” is emphatic, and drawing a strong contrast between the heretics who will leave eventually (vv. 7; 1 John 2:19) and the enduring truth within the individual that sustains the fellowship of the true community of Christ.

6. What did the elder say would be with him in truth and love? (1:3)

The greeting of this letter (v.3) has some unique features which shed light on John’s point. Any adjustments to the normal pattern of a greeting are intentional and reveal something the writer was trying to emphasize. John added “mercy” to the normal “grace and peace” formula, emphasizing salvation as well as our need for it. John also added the phrase “the Father’s Son” to the customary greeting as a way of relating his familiar theme of sonship. Finally, he added the phrase “in truth and love” as a way of reiterating the characteristics of the Christian life.

7. What gave the elder great joy? (1:4)

The purpose of this letter is now unfolded. John was concerned for both the fellowship of the congregation and a coming threat to the local church. He encouraged them and challenged them in their love and obedience (vv. 4-6) before he warned them and instructed them about the Antichrist (vv. 7-11).

John had “great joy” that he expressed to this church because he had found some of the members “walking in the truth.” Either he himself had met them or he had received word about them. He rejoiced because they believed the truth and obeyed its teaching, which is what they had been commanded to do.

John next encouraged the church to heed the commands of love and obedience. The command to love was not new (kainos) to them; it was one they had known since the beginning of their Christian life and had been around since the Old Testament (see discussion on 1 John 2:7-11). Love and obedience are reciprocal duties. Love was defined by John as walking “in obedience to his commands” (v.6a), and his command was to walk in love (v.6b). In this brief encouragement to the church, John again alluded to the three tests in his first letter (truth/belief, love, and obedience). Here he celebrated their faithfulness to these tests and encouraged them to press on toward further application of these truths in their lives.

8. What command did the writer give to his readers? (1:5)

9. What is love? (1:6)

10. What did many false teachers of John’s day deny? (1:7)

After rejoicing over and encouraging the true believers, John turned to the topic of how believers are to be relate to those who are persistent in wrong behavior and on believing sound doctrine. Though “some” (v.4) were waling in the truth, he warned about the “many” (v.7) who were opposed to the truth. In verse 7 he described these “deceivers” before issuing two warnings to the church (vv.8-9 and 10-11).

John warned about the “deceivers” of the church as opposed to the children of the church. The deceivers were out to lead others astray, to cause them to drift away form the truth. They should be seen as identical with the “false prophets” and “antichrists” of 1 John 2:18-19; 4:1). Their having “gone out into the world” is a reference probably to their leaving the church as well as their mission to teach lies.

These false teachers’ most recognizable characteristic was their rejection of the incarnation of Christ. John did not say that they taught against the truth of the incarnation of Jesus, but that they “do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (v.7). They were deceivers, and they may not have revealed their true beliefs, but their true position was to reject the Incarnation. This was double offense. They rejected Christ and they deceived people and, therefore, each one was “the deceiver and the antichrist” (v.7)

11. What did the elder encourage his readers to do? (1:8)

With the deceivers presented for who they really were, John warned the church to “watch out” for this false teaching lest they fall prey to it. This is the same warning given by Jesus in Mark 12:23. The false teachers were deceivers and so they were subtle and clever, mischievous and deceptive. A sharp eye was the true believers’ best method of defense.

One reason was given for the need to “watch out.” John presented it negatively and they positively: “That you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully” (v.8b). John was surely not talking about their salvation. They did not work for that; it was a gift (see John 4:10). He referred to their reward to be given at Christ’s return. John didn’t want their reward to be stolen away by these false teachers. He wanted them to be “rewarded fully,” so he warned them to “watch out.”

12. What is true about someone who does or does not continue in the teaching of Christ? (1:9)

John added support to this first warning by contradicting a claim of the false teachers (v9). These Gnostic-type teachers claimed a superior knowledge that moved them ahead of the normal Christians. John sarcastically claimed that these false teachers had run too far. In their leaving of the true teachings about Christ, they had also left behind God. It is only the one who “continues in the teaching” who has “both the Father and the Son” (v.9b). John taught this in his first letter (1 John 2:22-23), and reminded them here so it would help them “watch out.”

13. Who was the reader of this letter not to welcome into his or her house? Why? (1:10-11)

John’s second warning was not about buying into the false teaching, but about assisting its distribution. The person who “comes to you” (v.10) is one who approaches with the purpose of teaching you his ways. He is not just a person with different views who is coming for a casual visit. He is a false teacher. In fact, it may be that this is a visit to the church (since “you” is plural) which generally met in a home. However, the warning applies to both a church and a personal home.

John gives a clear command to the Christian about how to respond when a false teacher comes: “Do not take him into your house or welcome him” (v.10). In other words, do not encourage his ways or assist him. To do so would be to further the effectiveness of the false teaching and move the teacher deeper into its errant system. John’s descriptive words for this person’s efforts is “wicked work” (v.11). In order not to become an accomplice in such an evil adventure, John warned us not to encourage or assist its teacher.

14. Why did John not want to write all that he had to say? (1:12)

John closed his second letter, but he was not finished with the conversation. He wanted to hold his remaining comments for a personal visit. “Paper and ink” seemed to be the inappropriate medium in which to continue. The reason he wanted to visit them and talk with them was “so that our joy may be complete” (v.12). He hoped the joy that was embarked upon when he found some of their members living in the truth would be brought to completion when he united with the whole church in personal Christian fellowship.

15. Who shared in John’s greeting? (1:13)

The final sentence of the letter was John’s way of sending a greeting from a fellow congregation. “Your chosen sister” (v.13) corresponds with “the chosen lady” (v.1). So as John came to the end of his papyrus sheet, he signed the letter and got ready to pack his bags for a visit.

Get It

16. In what way does truth live in us?

17. When has it given you joy to see another believer walking in the truth?

18. How should we show our love for one another?

19. What does it mean to continue in the teaching of Christ?

20. What does it mean not to welcome a person who does not share in the teaching of Christ?

21. How would welcoming someone without correct teaching about Christ be sharing in his or her wickedness?

22. How can we avoid false teachers without being cold or inhospitable?

23. What sort of people should you deny a welcome into your home?

Apply It

24. What specific steps will you take this week to demonstrate your love for other believers?

25. What can you do today to continue in the teaching of Christ?

INTRODUCTION TO 2 JOHN

VITAL STATISTICS

PURPOSE: To emphasize the basics of following Christ—truth and love—and to warn against false teachers

AUTHOR: The apostle John

TO WHOM WRITTEN: To “the chosen lady” and her children—or possibly to a local church, and all believers everywhere

DATE WRITTEN: About the same time as 1 John, around A.D. 90, from Ephesus

SETTING: Evidently this woman and her family were involved in one of the churches that John was overseeing—they had developed a strong friendship with John. John was warning her of the false teachers who were becoming prevalent in some of the churches.

KEY VERSE: “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” (2 John 1:6).

KEY PEOPLE: John, the chosen lady, and her children.

OVERVIEW

TRUTH and love are frequently discussed in our world, but seldom practiced.

From politicians to salesmen, people conveniently ignore or conceal facts and use words to enhance positions or sell products. Perjury is common, and integrity and credibility are endangered species. Words, twisted in meaning and torn from context, have become mere tools for ego building. It is not surprising that we have to “swear” to tell the truth.

And what about love? Our world is filled with its words—popular songs, greeting cards, media counselors, and romantic novels shower us with notions and dreams of ethereal, idyllic relationships and feelings. Real love, however, is scarce—selfless giving, caring, sharing, and even dying. We yearn to love and be loved but see few living examples of real love. Plentiful are those who grasp, hoard, and watch out for “number one.”

Christ is the antithesis of society’s prevailing values, that is, falsehood and self-centeredness—for he is truth and love, in person. Therefore, all who claim loyalty to him must be committed to these ideals—following the truth and living the truth, reflecting love and acting with love toward one another.

The apostle John had seen Truth and Love firsthand—he had been with Jesus. So affected was this disciple that all of his writings, from the Gospel to the book of Revelation, are filled with this theme—truth and love are vital to the Christian and are inseparable in the Christian life. Second John, his brief letter to a dear friend, is no different. John says to walk in the truth and obey God (2 John 1:4), watch out for deceivers (2 John 1:7), and love God and each other (2 John 1:6).

Second John will take just a few minutes to read, but its message should last a lifetime. As you reflect on these few paragraphs penned by the wise and aged follower of Christ, recommit yourself to being a person of truth, of love, and of obedience.

THE BLUEPRINT

False teachers were a dangerous problem for the church to which John was writing. His warning against showing hospitality to false teachers may sound harsh and unloving to many today. Yet these men were teaching heresy that could seriously harm many believers—for eternity.

1. Watch out for false teachers (2 John 1:1-11)

2. John’s final words (2 John 1:12-13)

MEGATHEMES

THEME: Truth

EXPLANATION: Following God’s Word, the Bible, is essential to Christian living, because God is truth. Christ’s true followers consistently obey his truth.

IMPORTANCE: To be loyal to Christ’s teaching we must seek to know the Bible, but we may never twist its message to our own needs or purposes, nor encourage others who misuse it.

THEME: Love

EXPLANATION: Christ’s command is for Christians to love one another. This is the basic ingredient of true Christianity.

IMPORTANCE: To obey Christ fully, we must believe his command to love others. Helping, giving, and meeting needs put love into practice.

THEME: False Leaders

EXPLANATION: We must be wary of religious leaders who are not true to Christ’s teaching. We should not give them a platform to spread false teaching.

IMPORTANCE: Don’t encourage those who are opposed to Christ. Politely remove yourself from association with false leaders. Be aware of what’s being taught in your church.