Personal Instructions

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Salutation

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Notice how the author addresses himself, "The Elder". The term "Presbyteros" translates in the Presbyterian faith to "Elder". To those who do not believe that John wrote these three books, it suggests that they were written by some officer in the early church. There are two orders of Elder, one, the Teaching Elder, which is the Preacher, and two, the Ruling Elder, which are those who deal with the decisions relative to the running of the church.

I believe, like most, that this was John's way of referring to his age and position in the Church. It gave credence to what he was about to address.

Notice it was written to the "Elect Lady and her family". If, in fact, this was actually a Lady who was in charge of a church, it was certainly a break from tradition. Tradition says that she was a lady of noble birth, of great wealth and probably a widow. She had brought up her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Here John pays respect to this lady by expressing his love for her and by declaring the love that all of her friends and acquaintances had for her, all that "know the truth". "Truth" is here used to describe those who were led of God and who truthfully acknowledged her gracious and lovely manner. This gracious manner will be with us forever, according to John. Paul calls this elsewhere in his letters, "The Spirit of Christianity".

John's salutation is actually an Apostolic Benediction. "Grace, Mercy and Peace", what more could anyone want for their friend. Grace, unmerited favor, mercy, free pardon and forgiveness and peace, tranquility of spirit and conscience. This, John says, is from God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Author and Giver of all gifts.

Walk in Truth and Love

Notice John has either heard or he has personally observed for himself that some of her children were following in the faith. This caused John to rejoice. At this time it is believed that John was living in Ephesus. Some believe that her sons were involved in the family business and had reason to go to Ephesus where John came in contact with them. He was glad that she had followed the commandment of the Father in the bringing up of her children in the faith.

Having thus commended her, he gets to the point of his letter. "Now I beg you, Lady, that you love the Brethren." This is not a new commandment, but rather one that was from the beginning. Now, how does this commandment relate to the "point of the letter"? Well, if you love the brethren, you will be selective in your worldly acquaintances. Also, if you love the brethren, you will be zealous for the truth, not easily led by false doctrines and this was the purpose of his letter, to warn her of "deceivers".

Beware of Deceivers

To accomplish this, John lists some false doctrines that were being preached by these deceivers, the Anti-christ. Remember, the Anti-christ came out of the church. They have continued to come from the church membership. That's what makes them so dangerous. In John's day they were denying the humanity of Christ. They did not believe that Jesus had come in the flesh. Several false doctrines arose out of this deception:

1. Jesus never was a man but rather remained a Spirit.
2. Jesus of Nazareth was not "The Christ" but rather one who was indwelled by the Spirit of Christ.
3. If Jesus did not come in the flesh, then the Messiah has not yet come.

These false teachings gained much attention in the early church. They were mostly spread by the Jews. To combat these false teachings, John says that they should "look to themselves". They had and we have within us, the Spirit of truth. We can look to His leadership to rightly discern these matters. "Do this," John says, "that you may not loose what you have worked for." This, of course, does not speak of salvation sense we do not work for it, it is a gift from God. But spiritual growth is something that we do work toward and false doctrines cannot only stop that growth but it can cause us to regress. John says in Revelation, that there is a crown that awaits the faithful, certainly those who do not fall to these false teachings, see to it that no man take away your crown. Here he says in verse 8, "Do not loose what you have worked for but rather win a full reward (crown)." So beware of those who do not abide in the truth, the deceivers deny much that we accept about Christ.

Notice some of the false teachings that were being circulated by these deceivers at the time of John.

1. T hey denied that the Messiah had come.
2. They denied that Jesus was the Messiah.
3. They denied the humanity of Christ.
4. They denied that He died on the cross.
5. They denied the resurrection.
6. They denied His ascension to the Father.
7. They denied his intercession for us.
8. They denied the security of the believer.

These were the false teachings of the "deceivers" of John's day, they are still being taught by the Anti-christ today.

Now what does John suggest that she do with these people? Well evidently this lovely lady had treated these deceivers with love and welcomed them into her home as she had the true believers, and for this, John admonishes her. "Do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting." Do not support them, welcome them, greet them. Do not support them with your attendance, prayers or money, for if you do, you share in their wicked work.

Matthew Henry says that there are many ways that we share in the work of the Devil, by silence, by indifference, by contribution, by public acceptance, with money and outward support. We need to ask God's forgiveness for these sins, some of omission and some of commission.

Conclusion

John closes with reluctance, for he had much more that he wanted to tell her, but he had hopes that he might visit her where they could talk face to face. This would have been a great joy for John for he had great respect for this lady.

It would appear the children of her sister lived near John and sent their love by this letter. John, who had no family accept as he looked after Mary the mother of Jesus after the death of Jesus, was strong in his beliefs in a loving and supportive family, both spiritual and earthly families.

THUS ENDS THE SECOND LETTER OF JOHN

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