II John
INTRODUCTION:
This epistle is addressed to an individual; "unto the elect lady" but some say the more correct translation is "to the elect Kryia". This Christian woman was evidently well known, and the apostle not only knew her children but had just recently, or at least prior to his writing, seen and spent time with them.
John's purpose in writing this brief letter is to warn her against false teaching and false teachers. That she was well known for her hospitality would appear from the admonition not to extend that hospitality to those whose teachings were opposed or contrary to the Faith. She is thus advised to safeguard both the Faith and the interests of her children.
This
book, though the shortest book in the English Bible,
holds a wealth of lessons to prepare the child of God for his daily
living. As one writer has so aptly
stated it, this book, as well as John's other epistles, was "written for a
church that confronted new philosophies which sought to conquer Christianity by
absorbing it, and that was struggling to maintain its distinctive message
against perversion by error."
In deed the church of our Lord must maintain its distinctive message
(cf. II Timothy 4:1-6; Galatians 1:6-9,
Luke
v1-3. "THE ELDER UNTO THE ELECT LADY AND HER CHILDREN, WHOM I LOVE IN THE TRUTH; AND NOT I ONLY, BUT ALSO ALL THEY THAT HAVE KNOWN THE TRUTH; FOR THE TRUTH'S SAKE, WHICH DWELLETH IN US, AND SHALL BE WITH US FOR EVER. GRACE BE WITH YOU, MERCY, and PEACE, FROM GOD THE FATHER, AND FROM THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF THE FATHER, IN TRUTH AND LOVE."
"The elder" The term translated "elder," presbuteros, when used in reference to Christians, has reference either to age (I Timothy 5:1-2; I Peter 5:5) or the office of an elder (Acts 14:23; 20:17; I Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5). Some would debate which is meant here but we can see that either could apply to the Apostle John. He was definitely an elderly man when this was written and he could have served as an elder in the church as well. It matters not, the fact that this book has been preserved as part of the New Testament canon down through the centuries is sufficient to be proof of its importance to us today.
The
letter is addressed to "the elect lady and her children." In this greeting we see the kind and
loving character of this great apostle as he speaks freely of loving this
Christian sister and her children.
So much does John speak of love that he is frequently referred to as the
"apostle of love." In John we learn that one can be both a
"Son of Thunder" (Mark
The remainder of these three verses is devoted to "TRUTH". "Truth" is an important word to the apostle John; it is found 99 times in the New Testament, in John's writing 45 of those 99 times and in this short book 5 times. Let's look at these:
1) We are to "love in
the truth" (v.1). While the
word used here for love, agapo, means that love which
seeks the best for another, the special love of Christianity, John shows how
great love can be by linking it with "Truth." This indicates love in the "highest
sphere." This speaks of the sincere, "unfeigned love of the
brethren" (I Peter
2) The Truth can be
"known." John assured the
elect lady not only of his love, but of the love of those who "have known
the truth”. How ridiculous it
would have been to pen either this or any other epistle if it were, as many
among us now profess, impossible to know Truth. It is not surprising at all to see the
current digression in the body considering how so many are being assured they
cannot know what God has said in His holy Word. However, no matter how much such is set
forth, the Word proclaims clearly that the Truth (which is God's Word, John
3. Truth is the basis, the motive for love (v.2). Those who loved this sister loved her "for the truth's sake." It is only when we have that high love, founded in and on the Truth, that the Truth will prosper and souls will be saved. The earnest love within the individual for the Truth will compel him to love those of like mind. Truth is the common bond that draws us together in love. WE WILL NEVER HAVE PEACE AND HARMONY WITHIN THIS OR ANY OTHER CONGREGATION OF THE LORD'S CHURCH WITHOUT IT.
4. Truth should be that
which "dwelleth in us" (v.2). "THY WORD HAVE I
HID IN MINE HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE" (Psalms 119:11). The Truth abiding in us is the God-given
way to faithfulness and prosperity.
Though once known as a "people of the Book," we are fast
becoming more like the generation of
"THIS BOOK OF THE LAW SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH; BUT THOU SHALT MEDITATE THEREIN DAY AND NIGHT, THAT THOU MAYEST OBSERVE TO DO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN THEREIN: FOR THEN THOU SHALT MAKE THY WAY PROSPEROUS, AND THEN THOU SHALT HAVE GOOD SUCCESS (Joshua. 1:8)."
If we are to enter into the "promised land" we
must likewise meditate on His Word day and night - "RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS
THE ENGRAFTED WORD" (James 1:21). Then we may proclaim with Job,
"NEITHER HAVE I GONE BACK FROM THE COMMANDMENTS OF HIS LIPS; I HAVE
ESTEEMED THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH MORE THAN MY NECESSARY food" (Job
5. The Truth "shall be
with us for ever" (v.2) Time and again the eternality of God's Word is
affirmed (cf. I Peter
As
we look to the blessings of Truth being with us themselves, we see a clear
connection among Grace, Mercy and Peace and a reason for the order. "GRACE," the unmerited favor
from God, has appeared to all men (Titus.
v4. "I REJOICED GREATLY THAT I FOUND OF THY CHILDREN WALKING IN TRUTH, AS WE HAVE RECEIVED A COMMANDMENT FROM THE FATHER."
This woman was assured by John that he found "THY CHILDREN WALKING IN TRUTH" I wonder how many people, members of the church even upon receiving a letter from someone saying the same thing would lay it aside and say that's fine but how are they doing in their job...school...etc??? What are our priorities for our children or our grandchildren? What is it that we emphasize in their training and teaching? Is it their love for the Word of God? Is it their love for the truth in its purity or what they make of themselves in their careers or what their school grades might be?
Through the pages of the New
Testament we have impressed upon us that the primary thing in all our lives is
to walk with God (Matthew
v5. "AND NOW I BESEECH THEE, LADY, NOT AS THOUGH I WROTE A NEW COMMANDMENT UNTO THEE, BUT THAT WHICH WE HAD FROM THE BEGINNING, THAT WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER."
Having just studied the book of I John we talked about love and can refer again to John 13:34, 15:12; I Peter 4:8; I John 3:23; I John 2:7-8 to see the proper place of love in God's pattern for our living. John also confirms that this is not a new commandment, but in fact that which they had from the beginning.
v6. "AND THIS IS LOVE; THAT WE WALK AFTER HIS COMMANDMENTS. THIS IS THE COMMANDMENT, THAT, AS YE HAVE HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING, YE SHOULD WALK IN IT."
See
also John
I have no problem at all with saying, as some have put it, "all we need is love."
But I do have problems with is the unbelievable definition that many have of "love." It's as warped as the world calling lust "love". Indeed love is pictured as some sort of magic potion which enables God and man to be blinded to the faults in man himself, and to the commands of God; but is that what love is? John gives us the answer.
Read verse six again: and perhaps we need be reminded that this is a God breathed definition of love. Love and obedience CANNOT be separated!!! And, of course, one of these commandments is to love our brother. If it were not so eternally tragic it would be humorous to watch as multitudes seek to explain how love compels man and God to overlook sin; but such is not the case. Let's do a comparison.
Man's "Love" overlooks sin;
God's love "REPROVES, REBUKES, EXHORTS" (II Timothy 4:2)
Man's "Love" refuses to disfellowship the sinful brother or sister
God's love Demands we withdraw (II Thessalonians 3:6)
Man's "Love" refuses to mark and avoid false teachers
God's
love demands we mark and avoid them (Romans
Man's "Love" preaches smooth things
God's love Preaches the Word (II Timothy 4:2)
Man's "Love" Says it is unloving to call names
God's
love demands and illustrates such (Romans
Man's "Love seeks "unity in diversity"
God's
love demands unity in the Word (John
More could easily be listed but such should be sufficient to illustrate how man has so grossly twisted what God commands. Let us look at those who had zeal without knowledge for God’s word:
Romans 10:3 "FOR THEY BEING IGNORANT OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND GOING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, HAVE NOT SUBMITTED THEMSELVES UNTO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD."
II Peter 3:16 "AS ALSO IN ALL his EPISTLES, SPEAKING IN THEM OF THESE THINGS; IN WHICH ARE SOME THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD, WHICH THEY THAT ARE UNLEARNED AND UNSTABLE WREST, AS they do ALSO OTHER SCRIPTURES, UNTO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION."
v7. "FOR MANY DECEIVERS ARE ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, WHO CONFESS NOT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH. THIS IS A DECEIVER AND AN ANTI-CHRIST."
Moses
said that false prophets were to be put to death under the law (Deuteronomy 13); Isaiah spoke about God
cutting off the prophet that teaches lies (Isaiah
"THEN THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, THE PROPHETS PROPHESY LIES IN MY NAME; I SENT THEM NOT, NEITHER HAVE I COMMANDED THEM, NEITHER SPOKE UNTO THEM; THEY PROPHESY UNTO YOU A FALSE VISION, AND DIVINATION, AND A THING OF NOUGHT, AND THE DECEIT OF THEIR HEART (Jeremiah 14:14).
Ezekiel warned against false prophets (Ezekiel 13:3) as did Zechariah (Zechariah 13:4). Jesus
said, "BEWARE
OF FALSE PROPHETS, WHICH COME TO YOU IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING, BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE
RAVENING WOLVES" (Matthew
7:15). He further warned,
"FOR
THERE SHALL ARISE FALSE CHRISTS, AND FALSE PROPHETS, AND SHALL SHOW GREAT SIGNS
AND WONDERS; SO AS TO LEAD ASTRAY, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, EVEN THE ELECT"
(Matthew 24:24). Paul said that he knew "GRIEVOUS
WOLVES" would enter in "NOT SPARING THE FLOCK" (Acts
v8. "LOOK TO YOURSELVES, THAT WE {YE} LOSE NOT THOSE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE WROUGHT, BUT THAT WE RECEIVE A FULL REWARD."
It was very necessary that the "elect lady" and her children be ever watchful and on guard against deception from these deceivers. Those people were fruits of John's labors, and he identified himself with them in the things "wrought," the efforts all of them were putting forth in the Christian life. The "reward" of which he wrote was the sum of all things awaiting the faithful at the end of the age.
v9. "WHOSOEVER TRANSGRESSETH {GOETH ONWARD}, AND ABIDETH NOT IN THE DOCTRINE {TEACHING} OF CHRIST, HATH NOT GOD. HE THAT ABIDETH IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, HE HATH BOTH THE FATHER AND THE SON."
The King James Version has the word "transgresseth" and the American Standard Version has "goeth onward." The kind of sin under consideration here is one which one is progressing beyond the doctrine of Christ; he does not abide in the doctrine of Christ. When division arose in the church over the use of instrumental music in worship, those who used it styled themselves as "progressives" and they stigmatized those who adhered to the original plan of God as "non-progressives". There is a very definite fitness in these terms. Instrumental music was not commanded by Christ, no apostle ever sanctioned it, no New Testament writer ever authorized it, and no apostolic church ever practiced it. To use instrumental music in worship is indeed to be "progressive"--to "progress" beyond the things which are written. There are many other things that could be included in the things that are "progressive" or would cause our brethren to consider themselves "progressive" that fit into the same mold.
It is interesting to note the following terms in II John: "truth" (II John 1,2,3,4); "commandments" (II John 6); and "doctrine" (II John 9,10) all mean one and the same thing. It is obvious that those who abide in the doctrine of Christ have both the Father and the Son; that this is the same as walking in the Truth; and all of this is the same as keeping the commandments.
v10. "IF THERE COME ANY UNTO YOU, AND BRING NOT THIS DOCTRINE {TEACHING}, RECEIVE HIM NOT INTO YOUR HOUSE, NEITHER BID HIM GOD SPEED."
John penned these words to make clear to "the elect lady" that false teachers were in no way to be encouraged in their efforts to deceive the people.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS WE CAN BID A FALSE TEACHER GODSPEED.
To receive such into one's house is to provide assistance in the work in the work they do, and is to partake with them in the evil deed of false teaching. It follows from this that those who teach are not to be supported, encouraged, or assisted, in such efforts, in any way whatsoever. If some one of this type appears, we are not to welcome him, we must not offer him hospitality, we must not assist him on his way. We are not to extend him fellowship. Paul wrote, "AND HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, BUT RATHER REPROVE them." (Ephesians 5:11). John said if a false teacher appears we are not to welcome him, we must not offer him hospitality, we must not assist him on his way. We must not do anything which could be interpreted by others as an endorsement of his work. This does not mean that we cannot perform acts of kindness in areas not associated with the work of the teacher. If disaster befell him, or his family, if sickness invaded his home, it would be our Christian duty to assist him and his family in any way we can; but we should see to it that what we do does not in any way advance the proclamation of false doctrine. False teachers are the most dangerous men on earth.
v11. "FOR HE THAT BIDDETH HIM GOD SPEED IS PARTAKER OF HIS EVIL DEEDS."
John
gave the reason for such stringent prohibitions. He said that he who greets him, that is,
he who thus receives and sends on his way such a false teacher, is
"PARTAKER OF HIS EVIL DEEDS."
This means that he is in fellowship with his wicked work. The Greek here uses koinonei,
a verb, "to have fellowship"; so the person who bids the false
teacher Godspeed has "fellowship" with the wicked work. Acceptance of the Truth makes fellowship
possible between Christians (I John 1:3,
7), but denial of the doctrine of Christ destroys the basis of that fellowship
and fraternal sharing which we have in the Gospel. Paul thanked God for the Philippians'
fellowship in the furtherance of the Gospel (Philippians 1:5), but wickedness and error forfeit the right to
that fellowship. What seems to the
cowards among us as strong language should be meditated upon and followed. Avoiding of false teachers is often
taught in the New Testament (I Timothy
v12. "HAVING MANY THINGS TO WRITE UNTO YOU, I WOULD NOT write WITH PAPER AND INK: BUT I TRUST TO COME UNTO YOU, AND SPEAK FACE TO FACE, THAT OUR JOY MAY BE FULL."
John may have been separated for a while from those to whom he was writing and could say he had many things to write; but he explained the shortness of the present letter by saying he would rather not use paper and ink to write any more. This preference of John may have meant that John anticipated a visit, making a lengthy letter unnecessary. His desire was to talk face to face.
v13. "THE CHILDREN OF THY ELECT SISTER GREET THEE. AMEN.