2 John 1

ADDRESS:

GREETING:

THANKSGIVING FOR THE

ELECT

LADY'S

FAITHFULNESS IN THE

TRUTH:

ENJOINS

LOVE:

WARNS AGAINST

DECEIVERS,

LEST

WE

LOSE

OUR

REWARD:

CONCLUSION.

1. The elder--In a familiar letter John gives himself a less

authoritative designation than "apostle"; so

1Pe 5:1.

lady--BENGEL takes the Greek as a

proper name Kyria, answering to the Hebrew "Martha."

Being a person of influence, "deceivers"

(2Jo 7)

were insinuating themselves into her family to seduce her and her

children from the faith [TIRINUS], whence John

felt it necessary to write a warning to her. (But see my

Introduction and

1Pe 5:13).

A particular Church, probably that at Babylon, was intended.

"Church" is derived from Greek "Kuriake," akin to

Kuria, or Kyria here; the latter word among the Romans

and Athenians means the same as ecclesia, the term appropriated

to designate the Church assembly.

love in the truth--Christian love rests on the Christian

truth

(2Jo 3,

end). Not merely "I love in truth," but "I love in

THE truth."

all--All Christians form one fellowship, rejoicing in the

spiritual prosperity of one another. "The communion of love is as wide

as the communion of faith" [ALFORD].

2. For the truth's sake--joined with "I love,"

2Jo 1.

"They who love in the truth, also love on account of the

truth."

dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever--in consonance

with Christ's promise.

3. Grace be with you--One of the oldest manuscripts and several

versions have "us" for you. The Greek is literally,

"Grace shall be with us," that is, with both you and me.

A prayer, however, is implied besides a confident affirmation.

grace . . . mercy . . .

peace--"Grace" covers the sins of men; "mercy," their

miseries. Grace must first do away with man's guilt before his

misery can be relieved by mercy. Therefore grace stands

before mercy. Peace is the result of both, and therefore stands

third in order. Casting all our care on the Lord, with thanksgiving,

maintains this peace.

the Lord--The oldest manuscripts and most of the oldest versions

omit "the Lord." John never elsewhere uses this title in his Epistles,

but "the Son of God."

in truth and love--The element or sphere in which alone

grace, mercy, and peace, have place. He mentions

truth in

2Jo 4;

love, in

2Jo 5.

Paul uses FAITH and love; for faith

and truth are close akin.

4. I found--probably in one of his missionary tours of

superintendence. See

Introduction,

at the end, and

2Jo 12;

3Jo 10, 14.

of thy children--some.

in truth--that is, in the Gospel truth.

as--even as. "The Father's commandment" is the standard of "the

truth."

5. I beseech--rather (compare Note, see on

1Jo 5:16),

"I request thee," implying some degree of authority.

not . . . new commandment--It was old in that

Christians heard it from the first in the Gospel preaching; new,

in that the Gospel rested love on the new principle of filial imitation

of God who first loved us, and gave Jesus to die for us; and

also, in that love is now set forth with greater clearness than

in the Old Testament dispensation. Love performs both tables of the

law, and is the end of the law and the Gospel alike (compare

Notes, see on

1Jo 2:7, 8).

that we--implying that he already had love, and urging her to

join him in the same Christian grace. This verse seems to me to decide

that a Church, not an individual lady, is meant. For a

man to urge a woman ("THEE"; not thee and thy

children) that he and she should love one another, is hardly

like an apostolic precept, however pure may be the love enjoined; but

all is clear if "the lady" represent a Church.

6. "Love is the fulfilling of the law"

(Ro 13:10),

and the fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love.

This is the commandment--Greek, "The commandment is

this," namely, love, in which all God's other commandments are

summed up.

7. As love and truth go hand in hand

(2Jo 3, 4),

he feels it needful to give warning against teachers of untruth.

For--giving the reason why he dwelt on truth and on

love, which manifests itself in keeping God's commandments

(2Jo 6).

many--

(1Jo 2:18; 4:1).

are entered--The oldest manuscripts read, "have gone

forth," namely, from us.

confess not . . . Jesus . . . in the

flesh--the token of Antichrist.

is come--Greek, "coming." He who denies Christ's

coming in the flesh, denies the possibility of the

incarnation; he who denies that he has come, denies its

actuality. They denied the possibility of a Messiah's appearing,

or coming, in the flesh [NEANDER]. I think

the Greek present participle implies both the first and

the second advent of Christ. He is often elsewhere called the Coming

One (Greek),

Mt 11:3;

Heb 10:37.

The denial of the reality of His manifestation in the flesh, at His

first coming, and of His personal advent again, constitutes Antichrist.

"The world turns away from God and Christ, busily intent upon

its own husks; but to OPPOSE God and Christ is of

the leaven of Satan" [BENGEL].

This is a, &c.--Greek, "This (such a one as has been just

described) is the deceiver and the Antichrist." The

many who in a degree fulfil the character, are forerunners of

the final personal Antichrist, who shall concentrate in himself all the

features of previous Antichristian systems.

8. Look to yourselves--amidst the widespread prevalence of

deception so many being led astray. So Christ's warning,

Mt 24:4, 5, 24.

we lose not . . . we receive--The oldest manuscripts

and versions read, "That YE lose not, but that

YE receive."

which we have wrought--So one oldest manuscript reads. Other

very old manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read, "which

YE have wrought." The we being seemingly

the more difficult reading is less likely to have been a transcriber's

alteration. Look that ye lose not the believing state of "truth and

love," which WE (as God's workmen,

2Co 6:1;

2Ti 2:15)

were the instruments of working in you.

a full reward--of grace not of debt. Fully consummated

glory. If "which YE have wrought" be read with

very old authorities, the reward meant is that of their "work (of

faith) and labor of love." There are degrees of heavenly reward

proportioned to the degrees of capability of receiving heavenly

blessedness. Each vessel of glory hanging on Jesus shall be fully

happy. But the larger the vessel, the greater will be its capacity for

receiving heavenly bliss. He who with one pound made ten, received

authority over ten cities. He who made five pounds received five

cities; each according to his capacity of rule, and in proportion to

his faithfulness. Compare

1Co 15:41.

"There is no half reward of the saints. It is either lost altogether,

or received in full; in full communion with God"

[BENGEL]. Still no service of minister or people

shall fail to receive its reward.

9. The loss

(2Jo 8)

meant is here explained: the not having God, which results from

abiding not in the doctrine of Christ.

transgresseth--The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "Every

one who takes the lead"; literally, "goes," or "leads on

before"; compare

Joh 10:4,

"He goeth before them" (not the same Greek). Compare

3Jo 9,

"Loveth to have the pre-eminence."

hath not God--

(1Jo 2:23; 5:15).

The second "of Christ" is omitted in the oldest manuscripts, but is

understood in the sense.

He--emphatical: He and He alone.

10. If there come any--as a teacher or brother. The Greek

is indicative, not subjunctive; implying that such persons do

actually come, and are sure to come; when any comes, as

there will. True love is combined with hearty renunciation and

separation from all that is false, whether persons or doctrines.

receive him not . . . neither bid him God speed--This

is not said of those who were always aliens from the Church, but of

those who wish to be esteemed brethren, and subvert the true doctrine

[GROTIUS]. The greeting salutation forbidden in

the case of such a one is that usual among Christian brethren in

those days, not a mere formality, but a token of Christian

brotherhood.

11. By wishing a false brother or teacher "God (or

'good') speed," you imply that he is capable as such of good

speed and joy (the literal meaning of the Greek), and

that you wish him it while opposing Christ; so you identify yourself

with "his evil deeds." The Greek of "partaker" is "having

communion with." We cannot have communion with saints and with

Antichrist at the same time. Here we see John's naturally fiery zeal

directed to a right end. POLYCARP, the disciple of

John, told contemporaries of IRENÆUS, who

narrates the story on their authority, that on one occasion when John

was about to bathe, and heard that Cerinthus, the heretic, was within,

he retired with abhorrence, exclaiming, Surely the house will fall in

ruins since the enemy of the truth is there.

12. I would not write--A heart full of love pours itself out

more freely face to face, than by letter.

paper--made of Egyptian papyrus. Pens were then reeds split.

ink--made of soot and water, thickened with gum. Parchment was

used for the permanent manuscripts in which the Epistles were

preserved. Writing tablets were used merely for temporary

purposes, as our slates.

face to face--literally, "mouth to mouth."

full--Greek, "filled full." Your joy will be complete in

hearing from me in person the joyful Gospel truths which I now defer

communicating till I see you. On other occasions his writing the glad

truths was for the same purpose.

13. ALFORD confesses that the non-mention

of the "lady" herself here seems rather to favor the hypothesis that a

Church is meant.

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