2 John: Love Everyone Around You, Trusting In The Truth

2 John doesn’t have multiple chapters. It has no easily broken-out divisions. The main point of this letter is to give an introduction because John himself is coming to speak with this group of Christians.

At this time, many deceivers were going out and twisting the gospel. Paul refers to people doing this in a few of his epistles.

As Christians, we are responsible for the teachings we follow and pass on. In 1 Peter 5, Peter goes into this concept. As leaders, we will be judged more harshly.

To me, that’s a scary thought, and the bible even warns people against leadership positions for this very reason.

2 John is about loving one another and avoiding false teachers. It seems to me that John’s life message was about love.

In the book of John, I don’t think he ever refers to himself by any name other than the one whom Christ loved. He also wrote the most famous bible verse John 3:16.

All his writings go into love, how God is love, and how Jesus loved us so much. I feel like he grabbed onto something and is trying to show it to the rest of us.

We get so focused on theology, that we don’t realize God wants to sit and tell us he loves us. Much like Mary and Martha, we tend to work and get angry at the ones who sit at Jesus’ feet.

2 John: His Initial 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.

2 John 1-3

2 John: His Introduction: Who Is The Elect Lady?

Nobody alive today knows who the ‘elect lady’ really is. But a lot of people have opinions on it.

I read it as an actual person who might be an elder or head of the church. This makes the most sense. However, I can also see how people view it as the entire church.

After all, people often refer to the church as the bride of Christ, it wouldn’t be a stretch to call it an ‘elect lady.’ However, I feel that’s more of a stretch than believing it to be a real person.

Am I right? Who knows, it doesn’t affect your salvation or mine, so it doesn’t matter.

I love verse 2, the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever. We have the truth in us forever and will be with the Lord forever. I long for that time and know it comes soon, however, I still have work to do here.

2 John also reminds us that because of the truth, which abides within us forever. Don’t forget, it’s the truth that sets us free.

What Is The Meaning Of 2 John?

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. 

1 John 4-7

The Meaning of 2 John: We Need To Walk In Love.

If you’ve read 1 John or any other Chapter he’s written, you’ve read about love. Like I’ve said before, this man wants to show the true love of God to each person on the planet.

As I read this I honestly wish and desire to feel this love. It’s been in my life, that much is evident, but it’s something I need to experience every day.

Focus on God, and understand you’re not worthy he makes you worthy. Once you realize that, sit back and experience his love.

It will transform everything about you, in a very short time.

2 John: Be Wary Of False Teachers

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.

2 John 8-11

2 John Examine Every Teaching You Receive

I’ve written about this before, but there are a lot of false teachings and narratives out there.

These teachings may seem harmless, or inconsequential, but that’s a dangerous mindset. Putting words into the mouth of God is dangerous. I won’t stand next to anybody who does.

If a teacher doesn’t acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, it’s safe to say they’re a false teacher. However what if they only skew the truth a tiny bit?

This is why you should be reading your bible, and listening for God to speak. Your relationship with God and your family with God is your direct responsibility. Everyone makes choices, but make the right choices and show your family the path.

One of my biggest worries is that I’ll write heresy on this site. It worries me a lot because I don’t want to lead anybody astray because of an errant keystroke, a badly worded sentence, or a direct lie.

I’m not perfect, please double-check everything I write, ask God to reveal all truth to you, and follow him.

However, the bible says to be saved you must confess your sins, and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Follow God, listen to his voice, and read his word.

2 John: 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.

2 John 12-13

Johns Final Greetings

I’d like to know what else he wanted to write about. Also are there any notes of those meetings?

Either way, John loved this congregation and cared enough to travel and meet with them in person. His joy was complete, and he was able to transform some lives.

My only hope is that someday I do the same as him.