Bible Book: II John

Because the Bible is practical, here is an overview of the book.

Author: John

Type of Book: Epistle

Outline
Christian Greetings (1:1-3)
To the Chosen Lady and Her Children (1:1)
For the Sake of the Truth (1:2-3)
Commendation and Commandment (1:4-6)
Past Loyalty to Truth Commended (1:4)
Love and Obedience Commanded (1:5-6)
Counsel and Warning (1:7-11)
Recognize False Teachers (1:7)
Resist Their Influence (1:8-9)
Refuse Them the Use of Your Home (1:10-11)
Conclusion (1:12-13)

Theme: Truth, Love and Discernment

Date of Writing: A.D. 85-95

Background
    The author identifies himself as “the elder” (v. 1). This was probably a title of honor that many Christians used to describe the apostle John during the last two decades of the first century. It is also possible that John served as an “elder” (see Tit 3:1, note), or pastoral leader, perhaps in the church at Ephesus. By this time, he was advanced in age and had a well-recognized position of authority as the only surviving original apostle (i.e., one personally authorized by Jesus to deliver his original message and help establish the NT church). John had been one of Jesus’ closest disciples when the Lord was on earth (see introductions to John’s Gospel and 1 John).
    John addresses this letter to “the chosen lady and her children” (v. 1). Some interpret this figuratively, with “the chosen lady” as a phrase that represents the local church, “her children” as a phrase that represents the members and her “chosen sister” (v. 13) as a phrase that represents a sister congregation (i.e., another group of believers). Others interpret this greeting literally as being written to a prominent Christian widow in one of the nearby church communities in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) over which John had spiritual authority. In this case, her family (v. 1) and her sister’s children (v. 13) would be well known among the churches in that region. As with John’s other letters, 2 John was probably written from Ephesus in the late 80s or early 90s of the first century.

Purpose
In the first two centuries, the message of Christ was taken from place to place by traveling evangelists (“messengers of the good news”) and teachers. It was common for Christians to welcome these missionaries into their homes and to provide them with added support for their ongoing ministries. Since false teachers also relied on this custom, John wrote this letter to caution “the chosen lady” to use discernment in welcoming traveling ministers into her home and giving them support. John warned the believers so that they would not, through ignorance, find themselves supporting teachers whose message was not consistent with the original and true teaching of Christ and of those he commissioned to deliver his message (as we have in the Bible today). In this letter, John refutes the same false teaching that he condemns in 1 John.

Survey
This letter gives added emphasis to a warning also found in 1 John about the danger of false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Son of God, who was born, lived and died as a real flesh-and-blood man (vv. 7-8; cf. 1Jn 4:2). John commends “the chosen lady” and her children for “walking in the truth” (i.e., being loyal to the truth of Christ and living by the principles of his original message, v. 4). He then challenges them to show their true love for God by obeying Christ’s commands and loving each other (v. 6). John goes on to say that Christian love must wisely judge between truth and error and not provide an open door to false teachers (vv. 7-9). To welcome false teachers is to participate in their deception and share their guilt (vv. 10-11). The letter is brief because John plans soon to visit the lady “face to face” (v. 12).

Special Features
Three major features characterize this letter. (1) It is the shortest book in the NT. (2) It is strikingly similar to 1 and 3 John in its message, vocabulary and simple writing style. (3) It provides an important balance to the message of 3 John (which encourages supporting faithful ministers and missionaries) by advising caution concerning the support of ministers not known by or belonging to one’s own congregation. John urges church members to carefully evaluate teachings by how they measure up to the original teachings of Christ and his personally appointed messengers before supporting ministers who bring the teachings.

Giving credit where credit is due.  These informational notes about this book come from the Full Life Study Bible, also known as the Fire Bible.  Don Stamps, editor.  Originally published by Life Publishers.