2 John

1. GREETINGS TO THE CHOSEN LADY AND HER CHILDREN (1–3)

The greeting of this letter compliments the chosen lady and her children, and the elder not only expresses his love for her in the truth but also emphasizes that all who know the truth do so as well (1). He claims the truth “remains in us and will be with us forever” (2) as a means of supporting his compliment and continues with a blessing reminiscent of Paul’s letters (3). In that sense, the elder’s greeting extends lovingly not only to a fellow leader within the Johannine situation but also to her congregation.

2. LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER (4–6)

The elder expresses his joy at finding “some of your children walking in truth” (4), which suggests meaningful contact with her community. The elder emphasizes here, as in his first epistle, the formerly “new command” that they had known “from the beginning” (5), challenging them to love one another. He then defines love as walking according to the Father’s commandments (6). To walk in the truth is also to love one another within community relationship.

3. BEWARE THE DECEIVERS AND THE ANTICHRISTS, WHO DENY THE FLESH OF JESUS! (7–11)

In contrast to the first antichristic threat (1 Jn 2:18–23), which involved a community defection resulting from refusing to believe Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the second antichristic threat (1 Jn 4:13) involved the advent of false teachers who refused to believe Jesus had come in the flesh. Here the docetic threat warned about in 1 Jn 4:1–3 is now trumpeted with a stark warning: any who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh are the “deceiver and the antichrist” (7). The audience is warned to be on their guard, lest they lose what they have worked for (8).

Where the emphasis in the Gospel is on abiding in Christ (Jn 15:1–8), here it is placed on abiding in the teaching about Christ (9). One difference between the beloved disciple’s teaching and the elder’s emphasis might be suggested here. The one who goes beyond the teaching does not have God, but the one who abides in it has both the Father and the Son (10). False teachers are to be denied hospitality, as welcoming them is akin to participating in their evil deeds (11).

The command to “love one another” (2 Jn 5) connects 2 John with 1 John (e.g., 1 Jn 3:23), and both are connected to the love command of Jesus in Jn 13:34–35. Similar instructions appear in other NT letters (Rm 12:10; 13:8; 1 Th 4:9; 1 Pt 1:22; 3:8; 4:8).

4. FINAL GREETINGS (12–13)

The elder extends final greetings, sending also greetings from the children of the elect sister of the elect lady (13). Again, the feminine reference could be a reference to women leaders in the church, or it could be a feminine reference to the church and its leadership. Either way, the elder’s endearing relationship with these leaders is clear. He expresses his desire to come in person, so that their joy might be complete, rather than simply writing with pen and ink (12). In so doing he exemplifies and communicates the same quality of loving concern to which he calls his audience.