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Thursday · Week 42
The Epistles & Revelation

2 John

Week 42 · about 2 min
  1. Fri: Micah 1-4
  2. Sat: Proverbs 13-15
  3. Sun: Deuteronomy 1-3

A short letter from “the elder,” John, to “the elect lady and her children,” possibly a local church.

Truth and Love Together

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

2 John 1:6 (KJV)

This letter is thirteen verses, about the length of a postcard. Two words carry it: truth and love. John says, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth.” He defines love as walking in God’s commands. Then he warns about deceivers who deny that Jesus came in the flesh. Early churches met in homes, so welcoming a false teacher into your house gave him a platform. John ends warmly: he has more to say, but he’d rather not use paper and ink. He hopes “to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”

Reflect: Is there a conversation you’ve been having by text that should happen face to face?

II John 1

1The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom *I* love in truth, and not *I* only but also all who have known the truth,

2for the truth's sake which abides in us and shall be with us to eternity.

3Grace shall be with you, mercy, peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

4I rejoiced greatly that I have found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment from the Father.

5And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing to thee a new commandment, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another.

6And this is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, according as ye have heard from the beginning, that ye might walk in it.

7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in flesh -- this is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8See to yourselves, that we may not lose what we have wrought, but may receive full wages.

9Whosoever goes forward and abides not in the doctrine of the Christ has not God. He that abides in the doctrine, *he* has both the Father and the Son.

10If any one come to you and bring not this doctrine, do not receive him into the house, and greet him not;

11for he who greets him partakes in his wicked works.

12Having many things to write to you, I would not with paper and ink; but hope to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full.

13The children of thine elect sister greet thee.

Darby Translation (Darby). Public domain.