Second John:

[Rob Morgan]

Second John:

This brief letter hos much in common with First John, including a warning about the danger of false teachers who deny the incarnation of Jesus Christ. John encourages the readers to continue walking in love but exhorts them to be discerning in their expression of love. Truth without love produces autocratic severity, but love without truth leads to blind sentimentality. Walking in love must not be separated from walking in truth (cf. Eph. 4:l5, "speaking the truth in love"), and believers must not show hospitality to false teachers who distort the central teaching of Christianity - the person and work of Jesus Christ. Second John breaks into two parts: abide in God's commandments (vv. 1-6) and abide not with false teachers (vv. 7-13).

Abide in God's Commandments (vv. 1-6): The salutation (vv. 1 -3) centers on the concept of abiding in the truth (mentioned four times in these three verses). The recipients are loved for their adherence to the truth by "all those who have known the truth." The apostle commends his readers on their walk in truth in obedience to God's commandment (v. 4), and reminds them that this commandment entails the practice of love for one another (vv. 5-6). The divine command is given in verse 5 and the human response follows in verse 6.

Abide Not with False teachers (vv. 7-13): Moving from the basic test of Christian behavior (love for the brethren) to the basic test of Christian belief (the person of Christ), John admonishes the readers to beware of deceivers “who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" (vv.7-9). ln no uncertain terms, the apostle enjoins the readers to deny even the slightest assistance or encouragement to itinerant teachers who promote on erroneous view of Christ (and hence of solvation: (vv. l0-ll). This letter closes with John's explanation of its brevity: he anticipates a future visit during which he will be able to "speak face to face" with his readers (v. l2). The meaning of the greeting in verse 13 relates to the interpretation of verse 1.
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[iaininlondon]

Maketh sure your iPhone tethers to the brethren. (iaininlondon vol1-ch1)

This brief letter has much in common with First John, including a warning about the danger of false teachers who deny the incarnation of Jesus Christ. John encourages the readers to continue walking in love but exhorts them to be discerning in their expression of love. Truth without love produces autocratic severity, but love without truth leads to blind sentimentality. Walking in love must not be separated from walking in truth (cf. Eph. 4:l5, "speaking the truth in love"), and believers must not show hospitality to false teachers who distort the central teaching of Christianity - the person and work of Jesus Christ. Second John breaks into two parts: abide in God's commandments (vv. 1-6) and abide not with false teachers (vv. 7-13).

Abide in God's Commandments (vv. 1-6): The salutation (vv. 1 -3) centers on the concept of abiding in the truth (mentioned four times in these three verses). The recipients are loved for their adherence to the truth by "all those who have known the truth." The apostle commends his readers on their walk in truth in obedience to God's commandment (v. 4), and reminds them that this commandment entails the practice of love for one another (vv. 5-6). The divine command is given in verse 5 and the human response follows in verse 6.

Abide Not with False teachers (vv. 7-13): Moving from the basic test of Christian behavior (love for the brethren) to the basic test of Christian belief (the person of Christ), John admonishes the readers to beware of deceivers “who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" (vv.7-9). ln no uncertain terms, the apostle enjoins the readers to deny even the slightest assistance or encouragement to itinerant teachers who promote on erroneous view of Christ (and hence of solvation: (vv. l0-ll). This letter closes with John's explanation of its brevity: he anticipates a future visit during which he will be able to "speak face to face" with his readers (v. l2). The meaning of the greeting in verse 13 relates to the interpretation of verse 1.