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  2. Tue: Jeremiah 36-37
  3. Wed: 2 Chronicles 13-18
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 chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,

2for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:

3Grace, 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.

4I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.

5Now 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.

6This 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.

7For 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.

8Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.

9Whoever 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.

10If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,

11for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.

12Having 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.

13The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.

World English Bible (WEB). World English Bible (WEB), public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.