An Introduction to the Epistle of Second John
STUDIES
IN
THE EPISTLES
OF
SECOND
AND
THIRD JOHN
Bob Buchanan
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLE OF SECOND JOHN
I. The AUTHOR of theINSPIRED EPISTLEofSECOND JOHN
A. NOTE that the inspired author IS NOT NAMED in Second John. The same is
true ofTHIRD JOHN (III John 1).
B. However, from the time of IRENAEUS in the latter part of the SECOND CENTURY,
the author was thought to be JOHN, THE APOSTLE, the son of Zebedee.
1. CONSIDER: Irenaeus knew POLYCARP, and Polycarp was said to be the
PUPIL of the apostle JOHN.
2. OBSERVE ALSO that First John is very closely connected to the GOSPEL
OF JOHNin “vocabulary,” “style.” “thought,” and “scope” (Westcott, p. xxx, xxxi). However, Second John has some of the same THEMES as
First John.
3. POLYCARP, who is dated about 120-140 A. D. referred to I John 4:2, 3 and
II John 7. Note this quote from Polycarp:
"For everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is an anti-Christ"; and whosoever does not confess the testimony of the Cross is of the devil:and whosoever perverts the oracles of the Lord for his own lusts, and says that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, -- this man is the first-born of Satan” (Polycarp, “To the Philippians, 7, 1). (Underlining by this writer).
4. IRENAEUS also affirmed that JOHN wrote the GOSPEL of JOHN. He quoted
John’s statement, “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us….”
(John 1:14), and he said that JOHN wrote this Scripture concerning Jesus’ INCARNATION (AgainstHeresies, I, 9, 2).
5. IRENAEUSalso asserted that JOHN wrote his GOSPEL during the time he
lived at EPHESUS in ASIA (Against Heresies, III, 1, 1).
6. Therefore, the evidence seems strong that JOHN THE APOSTLE wrote the
GOSPEL OF JOHN, as well as the THREE EPISTLES of John. This is
also true of the book of REVELATION.
7. However, it must also be stated that some writers affirm that there were TWO
MEN named “JOHN” who lived at EPHESUS close to 100 A. D., (1) JOHN
the apostle, and (2) Another JOHN called the “ELDER” who perhaps was
taught by the apostle (See II John 1 and III John 1). The writer of this bookletprefers the position that the APOSTLEJOHNis the inspired author of all of these epistles.
II. The PLACE of WRITING and the DATE of WRITING of Second John.
A. There is a strong TRADITION that places the APOSTLE JOHN in the City of
EPHESUS during the final years of his life.
B. It is recalled that JOHN had been EXILED to the island of PATMOS (Revelation
1:9). Patmos is in the Aegean Sea NOT VERY FAR AWAY FROM EPHESUS.
Please consult a MAP of that area.
1. John’s EXILE probably took place during the REIGN of EMPEROR
DOMITIAN (81-96 A. D.).
2. John possibly lived until the EARLY YEARS of the RULE of EMPEROR
TRAJAN (98-117 A. D.).
3. Therefore, Second John may have been written about 100 A. D..
4. NOTE: Because the FALSE TEACHING discussed in First and Second John
was spreading at the end of the first century, we have an additional reason
toaffirm this approximate date. Please see the discussion of this FALSE
TEACHING BELOW.
III. The RECIPIENTS of the EPISTLE OF SECOND JOHN
A. OBSERVE that the epistle is sent to “THE CHOSEN LADY (“eklekte kuria”) and HER
CHILDREN” (II John 1).
1. The epistle of THIRD John was written to a brother in Christ named“GAIUS”
(III John 1).
2. NOTE ALSO that in II John 13, the author spoke of “THE CHILDREN OF
YOUR CHOSEN (ELECT) SISTER”
B. The phrase, “CHOSEN LADY” probably does NOT refer to a particular person, but
rather to a CONGREGATION, and the phrase “HER CHILDREN” would then
refer to INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS of the congregation.
1. The apostle PETER may also be speaking of a CONGREGATION which was
“CHOSEN” (I Peter 5:13).
2. The UNIVERSAL CHURCH is called a “BRIDE” (Revelation 21:2, 9, etc.).
Read also II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-33.
C. This “LADY” is the “ELECT” (American Standard Version) or the “CHOSEN
LADY”
1. It is recalled that, in the Old Testament, Israel was the “CHOSEN”of
God (Isaiah 45:4).
2. CONSIDER ALSO that CHRISTIANS are the “CHOSEN” of God
(II Timothy 2:10; I Peter 1:1). (Bruce, page 137).
IV.. The FALSE TEACHING discussed in SECOND John is the same ERRORwhich is found
in FIRSTJohn.
A. CONSIDER that the “ANTICHRIST” DENIED that JESUS IS THE CHRIST
(I John 2:22, 23). They were “DECEIVING” or LEADING PEOPLE “ASTRAY”
(I John 2:26).
B. Then, OBSERVE that, in SECOND John, the recipients were warned about
“DECEIVERS” who were NOT “abiding” in the “TEACHING OF CHRIST”
(II John 7-9).
C. REVIEW ALSO that the “ANTICHRIST” of FIRST JohnDENIED that JESUS
CHRIST “HAD COME IN THE FLESH” (I John 4:2, 3).
D. NOTE ALSO that SECOND John is speaking of the “DECEIVER” and the
“ANTICHRIST” who DENIED that JESUS CHRIST “HAD COME IN THE
FLESH” (SecondJohn 7).
V. NOW, CONSIDER the false teaching of a man named “CERINTHUS” who lived in the
days of the APOSTLE JOHN:
A. Note this QUOTE from Eusebius in his “Ecclesiastical History” (4, 14, 6). He lived
from approximately 260-341 A. D. Whether this event belowactually happened,
we cannot say.
“And there are those that heard from him that John, the disciple of the Lord, going to bathe in Ephesus and seeing Cerinthus within, ran out of the bath-house without bathing, crying, ‘Let us flee, lest even the bath fall, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within.’”
B. The teaching of CERINTHUS
1. This false teacher was influencing people in the LATTER PART of the FIRST
CENTURY.
2. He taught that the DIVINE CHRIST descended on the HUMAN JESUS at His
BAPTISM and LEFT HIMBEFORETHE CRUCIFIXION. Therefore, he
taught that the DIVINE, supernatural CHRIST did NOT SUFFER!
3. Consider the following QUOTE by an early writer who opposed this teaching:
“Cerinthus, again, a man who was educatedin the wisdom of
the Egyptians, taught that the world was not made by the primary God,
but by a certain Power far separated from him, and at a distance from
that Principality who is supreme over the universe, and ignorant of
him who is above all. He represented Jesus as having not been born of
a virgin, but as being the son of Joseph and Mary according to the
ordinary course of human generation, while he nevertheless was more
righteous, prudent, and wiser than other men. Moreover, after his
baptism, Christ descended upon him in the form of a dove from the
Supreme Ruler, and that then he proclaimed the unknown Father, and
performed miracles. But at last Christ departed from Jesus, and that
then Jesus suffered and rose again, while Christ remained impassible,
inasmuch as he was a spiritual being.”
(Irenaeus, “Against Heresies,” I, 26, 1)
4. NOTE TWO TEACHINGS of CERINTHUS above which are condemned in
the epistles of JOHN:
a. Observe above that he taught that JESUS and the CHRIST were two
different beings, whereas the Scriptures teach that JESUS IS THE
CHRIST THE SON OF GOD (I John 2:22; 5:5; etc.).
b. He was also teaching that the CHRIST descended on the HUMAN
JESUSat His BAPTISM, and left Him BEFORE THE
CRUCIFIXION. However, JESUS CHRIST HAS “COME IN THE
FLESH” (I John4:2, 3; II John 7; See also John 1:14).
5. There are also other teachings of the early GNOSTICS and the DOCETISTS
which seem to be opposed in the GOSPEL of John and First and SecondJohn. PLEASE CONSULT ALSO THE BOOKLET ON FIRST JOHN.
VI. IMPORTANT LESSONS FOUND IN SECOND JOHN
A. Two emphases of FIRST John are also themes of II and III John (I John 3:23).
1. The EMPHASIS on “Believing in the name of His Son Jesus Christ is truly
expressing the TRUE IDENTITY of Jesus (See I John 3:23; 2:22, 23;
4:2, 3; 5:5, etc. andcompare with Second John 7-11.
2. REVIEW the EMPHASIS on “LOVING ONE ANOTHER” in FIRST JOHN
2:7-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-21, etc. and compare this with SECOND JOHN 5, 6.
B. Another important LESSON in SECOND John is the emphasis on “TRUTH”
(II John 1-4). Study also the GOSPEL of John 8:31, 32; 14:6; 17:17; III
John 1, 4, 8, 12, etc..
C. Yet, another vital LESSONis the need to AVOID APPROVING, and ASSISTING
Thepropagation of a FALSE TEACHING (II John 10, 11).
______
A SHORT OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE OF SECOND JOHN
I. The GREETING of JOHN (Verses 1-3)
II. There was GOOD REASON to REJOICE (Verse 4)
III. John’s ENCOURAGEMENT concerning LOVE (Verses 5, 6)
IV. The WARNING concerning the FALSE TEACHERS (Verses 7-11)
A. The READERS must BEWARE of the FALSE TEACHERS who GO “TOO FAR”
and DO “NOT ABIDE” in the TEACHING OF CHRIST (Verses 7-9)
B. The COMMAND to express NO HOSPITALITY to the FALSE TEACHERS
(Verses 10, 11)
V. John’s DESIRE to VISIT THEM and “SPEAK FACE TO FACE” (Verse 12)
VI. A GREETING from the “CHILDREN” of their “CHOSEN SISTER” (Verse 13)
______
REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE INTRODUCTION TO SECOND JOHN
1. Please give the names of at least TWO WRITERS of the second century who believed
that the GOSPEL of John and the THREE EPISTLES were written by theapostle
John.
2. WHENdo we believe that SECOND JOHN was written? Give a REASON for believing
that it was written AT THIS TIME.
3. What CITY is the possible LOCATION where SECOND JOHN was written?
4. WHO seem to be the RECIPIENTS of the epistle of SECOND JOHN? What is meant
by the term, the “ELECT LADY?” (II John 1).
5. What is the meaning of the word, “ELECT?” Discuss how this word was used BOTH
In the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS.
6. What was a MAJOR TEACHING of the “ANTICHRIST” in FIRST and SECOND JOHN?
7. What were TWO MAJOR DOCTRINES of the FALSE TEACHER CERINTHUS in the
days of JOHN?
8. NAME TWO GROUPS of FALSE TEACHERS who also seem to be OPPOSED in
FIRST and SECOND JOHN.
9. Discuss THREE IMPORTANT LESSONS which are observed in SECOND JOHN.
______
A STUDY OF THE TEXT OF SECOND JOHN
I. The GREETING of JOHN (Verses 1-3).
A. The “ELDER” of II John 1 and III John 1 (“ho presbuteros”).
1. Because of the SIMILARITIES such as vocabulary, style, and content, the
inspired author of SECOND JOHN is thought to be the same disciple,
JOHN the apostle, as the author of FIRST JOHN and the GOSPEL of John. All of these writings are very closely connected.
2. Possible SUGGESTIONS concerning WHY John might have used the term
“ELDER” to describe himself:
a. This word, or a related word, “presbutes” is used for an OLDER MAN,
and John would have been an OLDER MAN when this epistle was
written. Note also Philemon 9 and I Timothy 5:1.
b. Some suggest that JOHN might have been an ELDER of the CHURCH.
Observe that PETER wan an ELDER of a local congregation
(I Peter 5:1).
c. It is known that writers of the second century would refer to the early
“witnesses” of JESUS as “ANCIENT ONES” (Roberts, pages
151, 152). Perhaps, the FIRST ONE above is more PROBABLE.
B. The IDENTITY of the “ELECT (CHOSEN) LADY” and her “CHILDREN” (II John 1:
III John 1).
1. It is probable that John is referring to a LOCAL CONGREGATION to whom
he is writing. If so, “her children” would refer to INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
of that congregation.
2. CONSIDER also II John 13, “The children of your chosen sister greet you.”
John is perhaps referring to the greeting of the churchwhere he is
located.
3. REVIEW the notes on the “ELECT LADY” in the INTRODUCTION to this
booklet.
4. RECALL ALSO that, in FIRST John, the apostle referred several times to
his “LITTLE CHILDREN.” Read I John 2:12, 18, 28; 3:7, etc..
C. NOTE CAREFULLY that Christians are GOD’S “ELECT” (“eklekte”) or “CHOSEN”
people (Arndt and Gingrich Greek Lexicon, page 242).
1. In the Old Testament, the nation of ISRAEL was GOD’S “CHOSEN” people
(Exodus 19:5, 6; Deuteronomy 4:37; I Chronicles 16:13; Psalm 89:3; Isaiah
65:9, etc.).
2. Under the GOSPEL, disciples of Christ are a “CHOSEN RACE,” a Royal
Priesthood, a Holy Nation, etc. (I Peter 2:9). Study also Ephesians 1:4;
Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1).
3. The word, “ELECT” also means “outstanding” or “choice.” In Romans
16:13, RUFUS was a “CHOICE MAN!”
D. JOHN and “all who know the truth”LOVED the “ELECT LADY “ and her
“CHILDREN” (II John 1, 2).
1. It is TRUE that, when we really understand the LOVE OF GOD FOR US,
(I John 4:16), we will truly LOVE HIM, and LOVE OUR BROTHERS
(I John 4:21; 5:1).
2. CONSIDER that the word, “TRUTH” (“aletheia”) is found FIVE TIMES in
II John 1-4.
3. STUDYthe following thoughts concerning “TRUTH:”
a. Disciples of Christ must “KNOW THE TRUTH” (II John 1: John
8:31, 32).
b. Disciples of Christ must have the “TRUTH” “ABIDING” in them
(II John 2).
c. ALSO, disciples of Christ must “WALK IN TRUTH” (II John 4).
4. Concerning “TRUTH,” John had taught his readers in FIRST John that what
they had received “FROM THE BEGINNING”must “REMAIN” in them
(I John 2:3-6, 24).
5. “DECEIVERS” had come! (I John 2:26; II John 7). Because of the FALSE
TEACHERS (II John 5-11), this GREAT EMPHASIS on “TRUTH” was
so very important.
6. OBSERVE: The word, “TRUTH” and the phrase, “DOCTRINE OF CHRIST”
(II John 9) seem to have basically the same meaning (Roberts, page 153).
E. The PROMISEthat “GRACE, MERCY, and PEACE” would be with them was
from “GOD THE FATHER” and from “JESUS CHRIST” the “SON” (II John 3).
1. NOTE the following:
a. “TRUTH” would be with them “FOREVER” (II John 2)
b. “GRACE, MERCY, and PEACE” would also “BE WITH THEM”
(II John 3).
2. God’s BLESSINGS such as “GRACE, MERCY, and PEACE” are as
“CONSTANT and ENDURING as the TRUTH” (Roberts, page 154).
3. A common GREETING in the ANCIENT WORLD was “chairein” This word
meant, “Rejoice, be glad” and “welcome, good day, hail, I am glad to
see you” (A. and G., pages 881, 882). It is translated “greetings” in James 1:1 and Acts 15:23.
4. NOTE “GRACE and PEACE” as a greeting in Paul’s writings (Romans 1:7;
I Corinthians 1:3; II Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:2, etc.).
5. However, observe “GRACE, MERCY, and PEACE” in I Timothy 1:2 and
II Timothy 1:2. Examine also, “May mercy and peace and love be
multiplied to you” (Jude 2).
6. CONSIDER: “GRACE, MERCY, and PEACE” come from:
a. “GOD THE FATHER,” AND
b. ”FROM JESUS CHRIST, the SON of the FATHER” (II John 3).
6. PLEASE RECALL that the false teacher CERINTHUS taught that JESUS was
NOT THE CHRIST, but that the divine “CHRIST” descended on the
HUMAN JESUS at His BAPTISM, and left Him BEFORE the CROSS!
Review John’s teaching about the “ANTICHRIST” in I John 2:22, 23.
THEREFORE, THIS STATEMENT, “From JESUS CHRIST, the SON of
the FATHER,” is speaking AGAINST this false teaching.
7. When “TRUTH” is OBEYED and LOVE is DEMONSTRATED to everyone,
these blessings of “GRACE, MERCY, and PEACE”will come from the
FATHER and the SON! NOTE the phrase, “in truth and love” (“en
aletheia kai agape”).
II. John had a REASON to REJOICE! He REJOICED that Christians were “WALKING in
TRUTH” (II John 4).
A. John had found “SOME” of the “LADY’S CHILDREN” who were “WALKING IN
TRUTH.” This probably refers to some of the members of a congregation to
which John was writing.
1. John had probably HEARD ABOUT or MET some who were faithful to Christ.
He was VERY GLAD to find some who were walking in truth!
2. This seems to indicate that SOME IN THE CONGREGATION were NOT
FAITHFUL to the Lord!
3. Perhaps, MOST in the congregation were “WALKING IN TRUTH!” WHY
would one say this? Because John was “VERY GLAD!” The word,
“lian” here means “exceedingly.” (A. and G., page 474). John was
“exceedingly glad!” Read also THIRD John 4. See this expression also
in Luke 23:8 where HEROD was “VERY GLAD” to see JESUS.
B. The expression, “WALKING IN TRUTH” means “LIVING IN TRUTH!” It is a
“WAY OF LIFE!” Read again III John 4 and I John 2:6.
C. When these Christian had FELLOWSHIP with the FATHER, the SON, and ONE
ANOTHER, the “JOY” of John, and OTHERS would be COMPLETE
(I John 1:3, 4).
D. NOTE: This verse, II John 4, states that “WALKING IN TRUTH” is a COMMAND
from the FATHER! Study also I John 3:22, 23.
III. John’s ENCOURAGEMENT to LOVE (II John 5, 6).
A. John was NOT writing a “NEW” COMMANDMENT (II John 5).
1. Notice John’s teaching concerning an “OLD” and “NEW” commandment in
I John 2:7, 8.
2. John’s READERS had heard about “LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER” from the
“BEGINNING,” at the time they were first taught the GOSPEL. Read
again the phrase “FROM THE BEGINNING” in I John 2:7, 24; 3:11.
3. Review the emphasis on “LOVE OF BROTHERS” in John’s FIRST EPISTLE
(I John 2:7-11; 3:10-18, 23; 4:11-21).
B. The LORD wants every Christian to DEVELOP a “WAY OF LIFE” (II John 6).
Disciples are to “WALK according to His COMMANDMENTS!”
1. CONSIDER this QUOTE: “This is the command which was given you from the
beginning to be your rule of life.” “We have the same emphasis on love as
in the first epistle, the same identification of love and obedience, the same
insistence on what has been held from the beginning” (Bruce, page 140).
2. The command to “LOVE” is a “SUMMARY” commandment (Roberts,
page 158). It includes everythingGod has revealed about Himself and
HisWILL for man.
3. OBSERVE these parallel statementsgiven by JOHN:
a. “WALKING IN TRUTH” (II John 4)
b. “WALKINGACCORDING TOHIS COMMANDMENTS” (II John 6)
4. NOTE that John REPEATED the phrase that his readers had heard these things
“FROM THE BEGINNING!” See the previous verse again (II John 5).
5. The phrase, “WALK IN IT” (“en auto”) at the end of verse 6 probably means
to “WALK INLOVE.”
IV. John’s WARNING concerning FALSE TEACHERS (II John 7-11).
A. These FALSE TEACHERS were “GOING BEYOND” the “DOCTRINE OF CHRIST”
(II John 7-9).
1. The QUESTION may be asked, “WHY should disciples ‘WALK IN TRUTH’
and ‘WALK IN LOVE?’” Examine II John 7.
a. The first word in verse 7, “FOR” (“hoti”), means “BECAUSE!”
b. The REASON is that “many DECEIVERS” had “gone out into the
world” Compare I John 4:1. Review I John 2:18-23; 4:1-5 and
2:26.
2. John said that these “DECEIVERS” did NOT CONFESS“JESUS CHRIST AS
COMING IN THE FLESH! Read also the GOSPEL of John 1:14 and
I John 4:2, 3 again.
3. CONSIDER: The GNOSTICS and the DOCETISTS believed that the