John's second letter[1] is a special letter. It's short, I already knew that, but suddenly I realized that most of my posts on this site are much longer. Well, Johannes shows how it can also be shorter.
Subject-wise, the note ties in seamlessly with what we've already discovered elsewhere about'the love of God'.
The chosen woman and her sister
There are differing views as to whothe chosen woman and her children' (verse 1) are to whom the letter is addressed. The same goes for the question of whoyour sister and her children' (verse 13) are from whom John sends greetings. Many explanations about who is one and who is the other and why John writes that one raise question marks.
One of the most significant explanations is that this is a local congregation of believers. Johannes writes to a local community, calling her 'chosen woman'and the believers who are part of it'her children'. In the same way, at the end of the letter, he conveys greetings from the local community of believers of which he is a part at the time and calls them 'the children of your sister, the chosen one'. There are some other text places where expressions like "chosen woman" are used for the church or a local community of believers[2].
We read the letter from this perspective, that this concerns local congregations.
truth and love
The first three verses talk about the characteristics that the believers have in common:
- they know the truth and hold fast to it (verses 1, 2, 3)
- they love one another with a God-given love (agape) (verse 1)
- and they know God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father (verse 3)
These are the characteristics that they all received through the Holy Spirit when they were born again, and that is why they have become a community. The same foundation, the same eternal life. John does not write about the Holy Spirit[3], but simply affirms that the believers all have these qualities.
Practice: walking
The part in verses 4-6 is about Christian practice, the walk so to speak (verses 4 and 6). Apparently he met believers from that other congregation and discovered that they had the characteristics he mentioned earlier. He has himself
“(…) rejoice greatly that (…) they walk in the truth, according to the commandment which we have received from the Father” (verse 4).
The Christian life should be characterized by loving God our Father and the Lord Jesus, loving His Word and loving our fellow believers. That is what Johannes also tells them and it is not without obligation. It is a commandment that the Father has given (verse 4). Moreover, it is not something new, it has been the message from the beginning (verses 5 and 6). John imitates the Lord Jesus Himself, who said:This is My commandment: That you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). That was the command to the disciples of the Lord Jesus from the beginning and it still is.
Believers hold onto the truth of God's Word while loving the Lord and each other. One cannot do without the other. Paul also argues the same when he writes “(…) that, by loving the truth, we should grow in all things toward Him Who is the Head, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
Truth and love belong together, it is the core of Christian community life, which we must hold on to.
About deceivers
John not only encourages the believers to abide in what they have been taught, but he also makes it clear that there are dangers of deception and error. People who pretend to be Christians but are not born again and do not show the characteristics as we have seen before. Their message is not just “Christ and Him Crucifiedas with Paul (1 Corinthians 2:2). It's not just about them "the teachings of Christ” (verse 9), Who He is, from eternity, in His life as a man here on earth, His Atonement on Calvary's cross, His work for the believer now in heaven and His glorious future. They talk about all kinds of other things, such as the Holy Spirit, miracles and signs, how you can lead a better life as a Christian or take better care of yourself. But it is not always about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice that it says 'don't confess' and it doesn't say 'deny'. That's a big difference. If you ask these people if they also believe in 'the teachings of Christ' (to sum it up), they will no doubt confirm. You could then say that it is fine. But the point is not what they confirm or not deny when asked, but the point is: what is their message? Someone must be known tobrings the teachings of Christ' (verse 10).
The believers must realize that they are being misled by these kinds of people and put on the wrong path that leads away from the Lord Jesus. A way in which you will lose communion with the Father and the Son (verse 9). While it is precisely the intention of the Christian community that “(…) our hearts are joined together in love, and come to all the riches of full assurance, to know the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2).
Receive and greet
When it comes to receiving and greeting the immediate meaning is that we should not support these deceivers in any way in their 'ministry'. Not by deeds (receiving and giving hospitality), but also not with words ('greeting'). This is in contrast to what John writes in his next letter, that we should support and help 'the brothers' (3 John :5).
Subsequently, of course, this also means that as a community of believers you should not receive these people in your community (the 'house').
Speaking mouth to mouth
The end of the letter is interesting. John says that he actually has a lot to write, but prefers to discuss those things with them personally (verse 12). Remarkably, he says something similar in his third letter (3 John:13-14). Both letters deal with the Christian community, what that means and where the boundaries of that community lie. In other words, who you may or may not have intercourse with. Johannes says a number of important things about this (just like in his first letter), but in the end he is of the opinion that you should discuss it further with each other.
In a time of apostasy on Christian property, you should continue to talk to each other in the local community about 'walking in the truth'. That is not a negative attitude, but rather something that deepens your faith and 'makes our joy complete' (verse 12). The Lord Jesus uses the same expression when He says
“As the Father has loved Me, I have loved you also; stay in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy may abide in you, and your joy may be full.” (John 15:9-11)
[1] We can only assume that John wrote this letter, following the example of the 'Christians of all times'.
[2] See also 1 Peter 5:13 when it comes to a 'chosen church'. The church of Christ is also represented as a woman in Ephesians 5:23, 2 Corinthians 11:2 and Revelation 19:7. It is remarkable that in 2 John 1 and 5 the word 'woman' in Greek is the name Kuria, the feminine form of Kurios (= Lord, master). Could it be coincidence?
[3] Also see https://goddienen.nu/ 2016/11/19/the-unit-of-the-mind/
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