2nd John
Originally posted Monday November 24, 2008
2nd John
1-13
The Elder (Overseer) addresses the readers as the
"Chosen Lady" and her children (the household of God), in
keeping with the Greek word for Church, "ecclesia," which is a
feminine noun. Using the familiar themes of truth and love, he expresses his
and others' love for the community "in the truth" that abides in him
and in all who share in the truth. This double use of "truth" can
express two contextual meanings. In vs.
1a "in truth" can be stated as "in Christ," living
one's life in Christ as a faithful believer. In vss. 1b-2 the
truth that is known and abides in the Elder and readers forever, is the
accepted teaching, the truth that Jesus Christ came in the flesh
and was not a spirit devoid of a human nature. In vs. 3 we note the Elder's emphatic
use of "will" related to the spiritual gifts of grace, mercy and
peace. He does not simply hope they will be with him and the Chosen Lady and
her children, he knows they will be. These three gifts are not platitudes. They
represent the continuing faithfulness of God and Christ who love the Church. It
is by God's grace that the believer is called to faith, by God's mercy that the
believer is forgiven and in peace that the believer will live, now
and eternally.
The Elder rejoices at the news that some of the members of
the addressed community are remaining faithful to the truth of Christ which
others reject. This statement provides some insight into the situation. The
readers are not part of a church that has as a whole broken
fellowship with the Elder's community. They have been divided by the
teachings of false prophets who deny that Christ came in the flesh. The Elder
does not make the outcome clear but it is probable that those who were
influenced left the community to form a new one. In the wake of this separation
the Elder urges the "some" who have not "gone
out" to remain true to the commandment they "had from the
beginning" (when they were converted), to love one another. To
have love for one another and for God is to "walk according
to [God's] commandments" in love and truth (see 3:23f).
Repeating the information about the schism shaking the
church, (1 John 2:18-19) the
Elder is attempting to shore up resistance to any further rupture of the
community. The deceivers/antichrists who reject the teaching that Christ came
in the flesh have "gone out into the world" of deception where the
truth of Christ does not abide. The remnant "some" are to be on guard
lest they also become deceived and lose the reward of eternal life. Those who
have gone out, have rejected the teaching about Christ; they are not of
God for it is God's Spirit who is the teacher. They have gone beyond the
teaching about Christ. 2 John is not specific on this point of "going
beyond" the teaching about Christ. The teaching which abides in the
believer is the truth of Christ as the Son of God and Messiah
who has come in the flesh. To go beyond this truth most likely refers
to some attempt to reject Jesus' humanity as a suffering servant who actually
dies on a cross. In such a Christology Christ is re-imaged as a spiritual
being that descended from heaven and then returned without having suffered
or died. The language of John's Gospel - the Word in the beginning who
was made flesh and dwelt among us, gave rise to a host in interpretations
of Jesus as the heavenly redeemer who only seemed to be human (Docetism,
Gnosticism). Those who have gone beyond the truth about Christ "do not
have God." Those who continue to abide "in the [true] teaching of
Christ" do.
The Elder exhorts those who remain faithful to keep apart
from the deceivers. They are not to offer anyone
hospitality in the church or in the home who comes with any teaching
other than the truth they have learned "from the beginning."
Indeed, to welcome such persons is the same as participating in their evil
teaching. Given the importance of hospitality in the life of the early
church this exhortation gives voice to just how serious this schism had become
and the Elder's desire to stop the cancer from spreading any further.
In a brief final greeting the Elder expresses his hope that
he can visit the community and talk with the members "mouth to mouth"
about these matters. Such a meeting will complete their joy - a fitting
complement to the Elder's joy in vs.
4. The mention of such a cordial gathering stands in stark
contrast to the rejection of false prophets. In a final note of solidarity
the Elder sends the greetings of the readers' "chosen sister," the
church from which he writes.
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