2 John 1
2 John is one of the short epistles of the New Testament, written by the apostle John to “the chosen lady and her children.” Comprising 13 verses in total, this letter consists of greetings, exhortation, warnings, and blessings. John urges that they love one another in the truth (verses 1–6), warns against “those who deny Christ” who threatened the church of that time (verses 7–11), and concludes with brief greetings and words of blessing (verses 12–13).
1verseThe elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,
2versefor the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:
3verseGrace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4verseI rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
5verseNow I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6verseThis is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
7verseFor many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
8verseWatch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.
9verseWhoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
10verseIf anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,
11versefor he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
12verseHaving many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
13verseThe children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.
A Balance of Truth and Love
In the opening of the letter (verses 1–6), John emphasizes fellowship within “truth” and “love.” Truth is the foundation that binds believers together in their relationships, and love is the way of life that puts truth into practice. Rather than presenting a brand-new command to love one another, he points out that this is already a command Christ has given from the beginning, thereby urging a well-balanced faith in truth and love.
A Warning Against False Teaching
In verses 7–11, John warns against deceivers—those who deny that Christ came in the flesh. These people caused great confusion in the early church, and John urges believers not to be misled by such teaching, to refrain from fellowship with them, and to remain in sound faith.
A Brief Conclusion and Greetings
In verses 12–13, John concludes the letter by saying that he longs to share more stories directly in person. This greeting shows the heart of genuine and warm fellowship. Even beyond those who receive the letter, their children also join in the greetings, helping them feel a sense of unity within the faith community.
Points to Ponder
- Truth and Love: Consider how you achieve a balance of truth and love—love not merely alongside truth, and truth not merely alongside love.
- The Importance of Discernment: In the face of wrong teachings that appear in every era, you can check whether you use truth as the standard for faith and keep hold of it.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Within the community: As you think about your relationships with people around you, consider how you can put truth and love into practice in a concrete way.
- Developing Discernment: Even amid a flood of diverse information and teachings, examine your attitude toward living by discerning within God’s Word and the community.
This is the last chapter of 2 John.