Today, we’ll dive into the brief but impactful daily devotional on 2 John. This short epistle, authored by the Apostle John, contains only thirteen verses and was written toward the end of the first century, likely in or near Ephesus. John addresses this letter to the “elect lady,” which most scholars interpret as a congregation rather than an individual, underscoring his message’s relevance to the church as a whole. This letter focuses on living in the love of God and walking in the truth of Jesus Christ. John reminds us that genuine faith isn’t just about what we believe but how our beliefs shape our actions, particularly our love for God and others. Today, as we explore these verses, we’ll consider the importance of truth, love, and discernment in our own lives. To learn if you have eternal life, read the daily devotional on 1 John 5.
2 John Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today, we will cover the short Book of 2 John. 2 John does not have any chapters because it is only thirteen verses. But like 1 and 3 John, it was written by the Apostle John in or around Ephesus near the end of the first century.
Who Is an Elect Lady?
John writes to the elect lady. According to my English Standard Version Study Bible book introduction, “This more likely refers to a congregation than an individual . . . the word ‘church’ in Greek is feminine in gender” (p. 2439), like the church in other places in Scripture is referred to as the bride of Christ. The theme of 2 John is, “living in the love of God in accordance with the truth of Jesus Christ” (p. 2439). Our love should extend beyond God to other people as well.
How Does Second John Emphasize the Importance of Truth and Love?
The thirteen verses of 2 John clarify that what we believe is just as important as that we believe it all. John also connects love and truth; we cannot have one without the other. Can you discern truth from deception? Please read or listen to the thirteen verses of 2 John.
How Do You Journal when Reading the Bible?
Though this is a very short book, I would like to use the same journals I did with 1 John, my personal Bible reading journals from 1999, 2003, and 2012. I have been journaling my personal Bible reading for over thirty-five years. What does that mean? It means when I get my Bible out and read, I also have a journal next to me. When I finish the passage, I go back through the passage with a pen in my hand and a journal in my lap and begin to write down the things I discover from the Lord.
I started this habit in 1983. I do not remember really thinking about why I started journaling my Bible reading. Somehow, I just started. I learned how to journal in high school in an honors English class; however,1983 was years after high school and college.
I encourage you to pick up the habit. Journaling will change the way you read the Bible. If you know you are going to write something down after you read the passage, you will pay more attention to what you are getting out of God’s Word. Your mind will be more inquisitive. What does the passage say? What does it really mean? It is a privilege for me to share my personal Bible reading journals with you.
What can I Say about Myself on My Birthday?
As we turn to my 1999 journal, we get a little surprise. It was my birthday when I read 2 John. I am going to share my journal entry, then the notes about this passage of Scripture. I wrote, “My forty-fourth birthday. I’m very happy at forty-four. I would that all my children would confess Jesus as Lord and Savior and commit to live the Christian life. That would be the best birthday present. God is giving me the desire of my heart: International Extension Committee assignment and three months of great sales at American Business Advisors (my employer at the time). He is in control of my life and I like it that way.” There you have a little insight into what I was sensing and feeling on my forty-fourth birthday in 1999.
Why Is Jesus the Only Way to God?
I did read 2 John that day and wrote, “This is love: obedience. Whoever abides in the doctrine of Christ has God. Those who do not, have not. It’s one-way Jesus. There is no other way.”
What can Happen if We Walk in Truth without Love?
In 2003, when I read 2 John, I was in Missoula, Montana, a little far from my hometown of Denver, Colorado. I was there attending some Gideon meetings. I read 2 John that day and wrote, “Truth. What is truth? Why do we have to swear to tell the truth? Truth is what God’s Word says it is. ‘Thy word is truth.’ (John 17:17, KJV). Help me be truthful. Love. What is love? ‘And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments’ (v. 6, NASB). Maybe it’s clear why we lack truth and love, because we neglect His Word and His commandments.”
Nine years later, in 2012, I read 2 John and wrote in my journal, “If the truth, God’s Word abides in us, we can live forever, referring to verse 2. Jesus Christ is the Father’s Son, referring to verse 3. ‘Love one another’ (v. 5). How? ‘Walk according to His commandments’ (v. 6). Often, John ties love to obeying God’s Word.”
What Does It Mean that God Abides in Us?
Then I wrote, “A deceiver is anyone who does not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, referring to verse 7.” Then I wrote, “When we abide in God’s Word, we have both the Father and the Son, referring to verse 9. Whoever does not bring this teaching (what teaching am I referring to? Love one another, walk according to His commandments. Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The Father and the Son are one. That teaching.) If anyone does not bring that teaching, do not agree with, approve, or welcome him, referring to verse 10.”
Where in the Bible Does It Say Jesus Loves the Church?
Let’s look into this short little book. Remember it is written by John, who Jesus said was the apostle He loved. We gain the sense of his love in the first couple of verses. He says he loves the “elect lady . . . whom I love in truth” (v. 1). That is why people do not believe it is a woman, it is probably a church. He loved the church.
Did John Believe Jesus Was the Son of God?
In the third verse, he says, “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” You can see John earned the title, the one Jesus loved. John also makes it very clear in verse 3, Jesus Christ is the Father’s Son. Remember, this is being said by someone who walked and talked and touched the Lord Jesus Christ personally. He experienced things like the transfiguration, when a voice came out of came out of heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” So John verifies Jesus is the Son of God.
Then he goes back to the concept of love again. Verse 5, “that we love one another”, and going on into verse 6, “And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments”. Love is demonstrated by our obedience.
What Does John Say about False Teachers?
Next, John gets to the issue of false teachers, deceivers, “those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh” (v. 7). Anyone who does not believe Jesus will come again in the flesh, is a deceiver, is a spirit of antichrist. And John gives a warning in verse 8, when he says, “Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for”.
That may be true in your own Christian life today. You may have started strong, but your faith has weakened. Maybe your beliefs have been challenged. John is saying, “Don’t go back. Hang onto what you knew was truth from the beginning.” He reminds them and us to abide in the teachings of Christ. If we do, we have both the Father and the Son. If we do not, we do not have God in our lives.
How Do I Genuinely Love God?
In this little book, John reminds us about loving God. We do that by walking according to His commandments, by staying close and abiding in the teachings of Christ. And he warns them and us to watch out for false teachers, for those who do not believe Jesus is who He says He is. He says sternly, “Do not welcome that kind of teaching into your church, your home, or your life.”
Prayer
Jesus, we thank You for this powerful little book that reminds us You truly are the Son of God. To love You, we keep Your commandments, we abide in Your teachings, and we do not welcome the teaching of deceivers.
Holy Spirit, help us be able to discern truth from deception by staying close to You and Your Word. Build a truth-detector in our spirits. Keep us away from deception by keeping us in Your Word. We love You and we thank You. In the name of Jesus, amen.
