Introduction to 2 John

Like 1 John, the brief letter of 2 John combats false teaching in the church. Christians are characterized by their love for one another, and this love embraces truth and resists evil. Instead of offering hospitality to false teachers, John’s readers are not to share in their evil deeds in any fashion (2 John 10–11).

Background

The letters of both 2 and 3 John identify the author only as “the elder” (2 John 1; 3 John 1). Traditionally, this person has been understood to be the Apostle John. However, in the early church there was some dispute about whether the apostle wrote 2–3 John, with some church fathers saying that these letters might have been written by a church leader whom they called “John the elder.”

Second John is addressed to a woman and her children (2 John 1). This could refer to a literal woman, but it could also be a metaphorical reference to the Church. This would make the “children” members of a local congregation or a house church within the larger Christian community. The geographical location of this Christian community is unclear from the text. However, the Apostle John spent his later years in Ephesus, so if he is the author, the letter might have been sent to one of the churches in the surrounding area of western Asia Minor.

The letters of 2–3 John were likely written sometime between ad 85 and the early second century. The dating of the letters depends on their relationship to 1 John and when the events they address took place.

The issue behind 2 John (as with 1 John) is that false teachers were trying to gain influence among the believers. It is not clear whether these are the same false teachers mentioned in 1 John, but it seems likely based on their denial of Jesus as God’s Son in the flesh (compare 2 John 7; 1 John 4:2–3). The false teachers were apparently trying to pass themselves off as itinerant preachers to additional congregations (2 John 10–11). Christians welcoming these preachers into their homes would have unwittingly helped them spread their false message. John tells his readers not to have fellowship or to speak with these false teachers. Christians should not support teaching that does not affirm the incarnation of Christ—such a refusal is a defense of the truth of God’s Son.

Structure

The 13 verses of 2 John, which could have fit on one sheet of ancient paper (papyrus), follow the basic structure of a Graeco-Roman letter, with a greeting (1–3), a body (4–11), and a conclusion (12–13). The letter’s body begins with the command to love one another (4–6; compare John 13:34–35; 1 John 3:23). The rest of the body of the letter focuses on how to identify and respond to false teaching (2 John 7–11). The letter of 2 John concludes with John’s hope to visit the letter’s recipients (12).

Outline

• Greeting (1–3)

• The love commandment (4–6)

• Warning against false teachers (7–11)

• Conclusion (12–13)

Themes

To confront the false teachers, 2 John emphasizes both love and truth. Love does not involve only positive feelings and acts of service; it requires true obedience to God—a real and authentic response (6). Living according to God’s commands means making difficult decisions. In this particular case, it means refusing to show hospitality to people who are circulating lies about Jesus. In discernment and love, followers of Christ must keep false teachers out of the Christian community in order to limit their influence and to protect those who might be led astray.

Love requires us to call out lies for what they are. The false teachers John writes about did not remain in Jesus’ teaching (9) and denied His incarnation (7). Faith must be focused on the real personhood of Jesus. Even now, it is popular to claim to know God yet willfully ignore what the Bible says about Him. When confronted with such teachings, John says, we should respond in love but also with the truth.

Further Reading

The Gospel of John and the Johannine Letters

John, Second Letter of CLBD

John, Letters of CLBD