The Second Epistle of John, often referred to as Second John and often written 2 John or II John, is a book of the New Testament attributed to John the Evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the other two epistles of John, and the Gospel of John. This epistle is directed towards an unnamed “elect lady” and her children. The language demonstrates that this person was well-known to the community that the author of this epistle belonged to, and there have been speculations made as to her identity. Some scholars have proposed that she was a personification of the church as a whole. The epistle warns about deceivers who deny that Jesus came in the flesh and do not abide in Christ’s teaching. It advises believers on how to handle such deceivers and false teachers: do not receive them into their homes or greet them. Other themes that occur in this epistle include the command to love one another and the truth of Christ. It is the shortest book in the Bible at only thirteen verses long. Let us consider some common questions people have regarding 2 John:
What is the purpose and message of 2 John? The purpose of this short epistle seems to be to encourage believers to stand firm in the truth about Christ and his incarnation, and to avoid false teachers who deny Christ. The message warns Christians about deceivers and encourages them to continue loving and believing in the incarnate Christ. It calls the readers to discern truth from error, to reject heresy, and to practice love and obedience within the parameters of sound doctrine.
Who wrote 2 John? 2 John begins by identifying the author as “the elder.” This seems to be the same person who wrote 1 John, and probably John’s Gospel too, which is traditionally considered to be the apostle John, the son of Zebedee. The writing style and vocabulary are so similar to these other works that most scholars accept the same authorship. There is strong external evidence from the early church fathers as well that the apostle John wrote 2 John.
When was it written? Like 1 John, the epistle of 2 John was likely written between AD 85-95, during the last decades of the first century when John was an old man. This epistle was probably written after the Gospel of John and around the same time as 1 John.
To whom was 2 John written? The recipients are called “the elect lady and her children” (2 John 1:1). There has been much debate about whether this refers metaphorically to a church or literally to an unknown female believer and her offspring. It might be a symbolic name for a particular local church community that John was involved with. Or it could be styled this way to protect a prominent house church hostess from public criticism. Others think it was written to warn a real Christian woman not to harbor false teachers. We can’t be sure if this elect lady was a real person or not.
What is the outline of 2 John? Being only 13 verses long, this epistle does not contain long sections. Here is a simple outline:
I. Opening Greeting (1-3)
II. Commendation for Walking in Truth and Love (4-6)
III. Warning Against False Teachers (7-11)
IV. Final Greetings (12-13)
What are some of the major themes in 2 John? Some key themes include abiding in the doctrine of Christ, walking in God’s commandments, showing love to fellow believers, being on guard against deceivers, and remaining faithful to the truth. It emphasizes discernment in regard to those who spread false doctrine while also encouraging steadfastness in love and obedience. Truth, love and obedience are linked together.
How is 2 John related to 1 John? Second and First John have many similarities. They use virtually identical vocabulary and expressions. Both focus on themes like truth, love, light, life, and obedience. And they warn about deceivers who spread false doctrine about Jesus. First John seems to be the more comprehensive doctrinal statement while 2 John offers a practical application of those doctrines to a specific situation with false teachers infiltrating the church. The two letters complement one another nicely.
Why does John write about deceivers? In 2 John 7-11, the writer cautions strongly about deceivers who do not acknowledge that Jesus has come in the flesh. These false teachers were likely proto-gnostics, early precursors to Gnosticism, who taught that the divine Christ was not actually a true physical human. John counters this dangerous false teaching with a reminder of the crucial significance of Christ’s incarnation. The recipients are told not to allow such deceivers into their homes nor offer them greetings.
Why is hospitality and greeting mentioned? In the ancient world, food and lodging were typically offered to traveling teachers, along with greetings recognizing their authority. But John forbids this reception of false teachers, which would allow their false doctrines to spread further. He wants true believers to be on guard against heresy infecting the church. Homes were the primary meeting place for early church gatherings, so barring false teachers would hinder their influence.
What are some of the language issues in 2 John? Like John’s other writings, this short epistle contains simple Greek. The frequent use of “elder”, “elect lady”, “children”, “seed”, and “born of God” give it a family flavor. Key words are truth, love, obeying God’s commands, antichrist, deceiver, etc. The epistle starts and ends with the common epistolary formula of the era. All these language features fit John’s style well.
Why is this epistle so short? Second John is the shortest book in the New Testament. Its brevity seems linked to its purpose as a cover letter for First John, which it mentions in verse 12. Its short length is sufficient to convey the main ideas it aims to communicate. Length is not necessarily an indicator of importance anyway, as this little epistle still offers impactful instruction for churches today.
What false teachings does 2 John warn against? While the exact details are not given, it appears that these false teachers denied the full humanity of Christ (2 John 1:7). Likely this was an early form of Gnostic-like thinking that the divine Son of God only seemed to be human but did not actually become flesh. John forcefully affirms that Jesus Christ came in the flesh as a crucial test of orthodoxy. This may have also involved docetic beliefs that Jesus only appeared to be physical but was not. Other later Gnostic concepts seem opposed too.
How does John say to treat false teachers? In contrast to showing love and hospitality to genuine believers, John instructs the “elect lady” to not receive false teachers into her home nor offer them a greeting (2 John 1:10). This demonstrates a withholding of intimate fellowship and a denial of their authority claims. By refusing to host or acknowledge them, John hopes to halt the spread of their dangerous anti-Christ doctrines which threaten church purity. He wants their influence isolated.
What does it mean to not go beyond Christ’s teaching (9)? John commends the readers for abiding in Christ’s teaching and then warns them not to go beyond it into false doctrine. Jesus himself had taught them the sufficiency of his doctrine for salvation and Christian living (Matt. 28:20). To go beyond it meant accepting alleged “new truths” which were not grounded in the original apostolic gospel that Jesus gave. Staying within Christ’s teaching kept believers safe from heresy.
What does John mean by the deceiver and the antichrist (7)? Just like in 1 John 2, the term “antichrist” refers to those who spread teachings contrary to the real Christ. Rather than presenting the true Jesus, they promote a false Christ. The gnostic-like denials of Christ’s humanity fit this pattern. These deceivers rejected the apostolic eyewitness testimony about Jesus in favor of their own ideas. But John reaffirms the physical incarnation that he himself had heard, seen and touched (1 John 1:1).
What is the truth John keeps mentioning? The core truth being contended for in 2 John seems to be the assertion that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh as full man (2 John 1:7). This truth counters the early denials of Christ’s humanity which John calls deception. He applauds those who walk in the truth, meaning those who embrace the genuine gospel facts about Jesus which the apostles like John testified to based on their direct experience.
Why does John link truth and love? John presents “truth” and “love” as integrally related virtues of Christian orthodoxy and orthopraxy. He commends those who demonstrate that they know Christ by both adhering to sound doctrine and loving fellow believers. Truth and love should not be pitted against each other. Knowing and believing the truth should produce Christlike love, while loving others should be grounded in the revealed truth of God’s Word.
What are the major interpretive issues in 2 John? The key issues that have been debated include: 1) Who was the “elect lady” – an actual woman, a church, or a metaphor? 2) What specific false teachings were present? 3) Why are love and truth so connected for John? 4) How does 2 John’s teaching relate to 3 John’s discussion of hospitality? 5) Why is this epistle so short compared to John’s other writings? 6) How are the themes of 2 John carried over into John’s other works? 7) What historical context caused John to highlight the humanity of Christ here? Interpreters have suggested various answers to these questions over the centuries.
How is the Trinity mentioned in 2 John? All three persons of the Trinity are referenced in this short epistle. It begins by mentioning God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son (2 John 1:3). God’s commandments are equated with the commandments of Christ his Son. The letter closes with a prayer that “grace, mercy, and peace” from God the Father and Jesus Christ would be with them (2 John 1:3). Additionally, the Holy Spirit seems implied in remaining faithful to the apostolic testimony about Christ (1 John 4:1-6). So 2 John contains a Trinitarian framework typical of John’s writings.
What are some ways 2 John can be applied today? Here are some potential modern applications of 2 John’s timeless truths: 1) Test all teachings by Scripture to avoid false doctrine; 2) Maintain a balance of truth and love when interacting with people in theological error; 3) Do not aid the spread of dangerous anti-Christ teachings by supporting their promoters in any way; 4) Remain anchored in the apostolic testimony of Jesus’ life and ministry; 5) Show hospitality to genuine believers but not to deceivers seeking influence; 6) Obey Christ’s commands if you truly know him; 7) Remember that Jesus Christ came as a real incarnated man.
What are some devotional themes found in 2 John? This short epistle is filled with devotional riches: Abiding in biblical truth about Christ; Walking in obedience to God’s commands; Loving fellow believers sincerely; Being discerning about doctrinal error; Rejecting teachers who deny Christ’s humanity; Clinging to the apostolic eyewitness testimony; Overcoming deception with truth and love; Receiving genuine believers with joy; Looking out for the spiritual safety of the church; Praying for grace, mercy and peace from God.
What are some relevant Bible passages related to 2 John? Here are some other Scriptures pertinent to themes in 2 John:
1 John 2:18-27 – About antichrists who deny Christ and try to deceive but true believers reject them
1 John 4:1-6 – Testing the spirits of false prophets who have gone out into the world
2 Peter 2:1-22 – False teachers will secretly bring in destructive heresies and deny Christ
Jude 1:3-23 – Contend for the faith against ungodly people who deny Christ
1 Timothy 4:1-5 – Some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits
2 Timothy 3:1-9 – In the last days people will not put up with sound doctrine and gather teachers to suit their passions
2 Corinthians 11:1-15 – False apostles disguise themselves as servants of righteousness
Colossians 2:8-10 – Warning against hollow and deceptive philosophy that depends on human tradition rather than Christ
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 – The man of lawlessness who will deceive many with counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders
Matthew 24:4-5, 23-28 – Many will come in Christ’s name and will deceive many
Acts 20:28-31 – Be on guard for false teachers who will distort the truth and draw disciples away
Romans 16:17-20 – Avoid those who cause divisions contrary to the doctrine which you learned
Galatians 1:6-9 – Deserting the one who called you to follow a different gospel is condemned
2 Timothy 4:2-5 – Preach the word in season and out of season, reprove and rebuke with complete patience
Titus 1:9-16 – Rebuke those who contradict sound doctrine and deceive households for dishonest gain
2 Peter 3:14-18 – Be diligent to be without spot or blame as you grow in grace and knowledge of Christ
Revelation 2:2 – Commended for testing self-proclaimed apostles and finding them false
3 John 9-12 – Do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God.
This survey of questions and answers about 2 John has explored its background, purpose, authorship, themes, theology, dangers of false teaching, encourages to love and truth, historical context, applications, and relationship to other Scriptures. Despite being the shortest book in the Bible, it has had an enduring impact in church history and still offers relevant instruction for Christians today to remain rooted in sound doctrine and Christlike love.