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