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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

1I, a ruler in the church, send word to the noble sister who is of God's selection, and to her children, for whom I have true love; and not only I, but all who have knowledge of what is true;

2Because of this true knowledge which is in us, and will be with us for ever:

3May grace, mercy, and peace be with us from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in all true love.

4It gave me great joy to see some of your children walking in the true way, even as we were ordered to do by the Father.

5And now, my sister, I make a request to you, not sending you a new law, but the law which we had from the first, that we have love for one another.

6And love is the keeping of his laws. This is the law which was given to you from the first, so that you might keep it.

7Because a number of false teachers have gone out into the world, who do not give witness that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Such a one is a false teacher and Antichrist.

8Keep watch over yourselves, so that you do not make our work of no effect, but may get your full reward.

9Anyone who goes on and does not keep to the teaching of Christ, has not God: he who keeps to the teaching has the Father and the Son.

10If anyone comes to you not having this teaching, do not take him into your house or give him words of love:

11For he who gives him words of love has a part in his evil works.

12Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be full.

13The children of your noble sister, who is of God's selection, send you their love.

Bible in Basic English (BBE). Bible in Basic English (BBE), public domain in the United States.