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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 unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

2For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

3Grace be with you, mercy, and 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 found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

5And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

6And 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.

7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

12Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

13The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

King James Version (KJV). Public domain.