Theme (John Penned 5 Books)
- 2 John – A Woman and Her Family
- 3 John – A Man and the Assembly
- 1 John – The Family of God
- Gospel of John – The World
- Revelation – The Ages
Occasion
John writing to a sister because of the attack on truth; writes to a sister about defending the truth and protecting the assembly, and to a brother (3 John) about hospitality. Attack being made by itinerant preachers who must not be entertained; were not in the assembly as no mention made of discipline.
Overview
Three books to or about women: Ruth, Esther, 2 John (Gentile, Jew, Church of God). God showing His overall view of the division of the world.
Objective
Prevent the spread of false doctrine; Prevent the loss of crown; Prevent home from undermining the assembly (see 2 Timothy 1 and influence home has on assembly life).
Occurrence – Once
“Son of the Father” – a phrase unique to 2 John. Used here in this epistle in light of the error being dealt with. “Son of …”
- God – Deity
- Mary – Humanity
- Joseph – Legality
- Abraham – Nationality
- David – Royalty
- The Most High – Dignity
- Man – Sovereignty
- His Love – Intimacy
- The Father – Identity
Outline
- Character of Truth Summarized (vv1-3)
- Claims of Truth Personalized (vv4-6)
- Crisis of Truth Emphasized (vv7-11)
- Communication of Truth to Be Realized (vv12-13)
Principles
- Truth Must Be Personalized (v4)
- Truth was vital to John, vital to the elect lady, but her children had made it their own.
- You cannot live on another person’s convictions and knowledge of truth (“but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”).
- Buy the truth – personal and costly.
- Truth is everyone’s responsibility (a sister here).
- Truth Is Practical (vv1-4,10)
- Controls Associations – Truth bound John in love to her and her children. Note that “whom” in verse 1 is plural. Beauty and binding power of love. Test of Truth – Will this compromise truth? Test of Testimony – Will it compromise my testimony to others? Test of Time – Wise use? Coming under bondage to legitimate things? Test of Thanksgiving – Colossians 3:17.
- Controls Affections – Loving righteousness and hating lawlessness.
- Controls Actions – “Thy children walking in truth” – Truth controlled their behavior, priorities and manner of life. Truth is not just for the assembly but for the home as well. Home to be marked by balance (truth and love), hospitality, order (thy children).
- Controls Ambitions – Living for Christ, loving the brethren, loyalty to truth.
- Truth Is In a Person (v9) – since He is The Truth
- All truth is His truth.
- Truth relates to His person ultimately; whether assembly truth or doctrinal, all is linked with Him.
- No progress beyond Him (“Everyone who goes on ahead…”) – here is progress which is prohibited. Never look for anything beyond Christ.
- “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” (v7) was being denied by certain teachers of Gnosticism. This was touched on in the first epistle.
- Truth Will Be Preserved (v2)
- God will preserve it – the truth will be with us forever. God will ensure that truth concerning His Son will endure.
- God will provide grace, mercy and peace for us to preserve it. We preserve truth by life and lip. Must live it in the home: We guide (by our choices), guard (convictions), grace the home (character).
- Truth Is Precious (vv6-8)
- Danger of losing crown for stewardship: truth is a treasure, trust and test.
- We are stewards to whom the truth has been committed to be preserved (1Co 4).
- As pillar and ground we preserve and we proclaim (1Ti 3:15).
- Christ Himself went to the cross testifying to Pilate of truth (Joh 18).
- The epistle itself is an insight into an elder who has deep passion for the truth of God: he prizes, preaches and protects it.
Points to Consider
- Love (vv1,3,5,6).
- Truth (vv1,2,3,4) – along with direct mentions of these words, numerous motifs suggest them later.
- Look at the mentions of “truth” and link each with a thought. The Scope of Our Fellowship Determined by Truth (v1). The Security of the Truth – Its permanency (v2). The Supply of Truth – Grace is supplied to maintain the truth (v3). The Standard for Our Walk – Its priority (v4).
Prepositions
Look at some of the prepositions used in 2 John and note their value:
- v2 – in us and with us (en and meta)
- v3 – from (para)
- v6 – after (kata)
- v7 – for or because (hoti)
Practical
- In verse 4, the apostle found immense joy in the walk of other believers – the importance of our hearts.
- In verse 8, we are reminded of reward and the potential that a work begun for God can be marred through carelessness – the importance of heeding.
- In verse 9, we are reminded of the potential for furthering or hindering the work of God by our homes and our associations – the importance of our homes.
