2 John 1:1-13
Lesson 465
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
"The Second Epistle of John"
"Truth and the Christian"
Authorship -
Second John was written in Ephesus (modern-day Turkey) by the apostle John around AD 90 in the waning years of his life. By now, John is the sole survivor of the original twelve disciples. John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22;
Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother, Salome, and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. He was well connected and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned that Jesus was the Messiah from John the Baptist. John captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "apostle of love" because of his concern for believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). John sat next to Jesus at the Last Supper, leaning on Him (John 13:23). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed the Messiah to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death.
After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna), Papias (bishop of Hierapolis), and Ignatius (bishop of Antioch) were all students of John. Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. For three years, he traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Purpose and Theme:
If you take John's opening words literally, 2 John was addressed to a specific woman in the church "and her children" (1:1). If John's words are taken figuratively, it was written to an entire church (elect lady) and its members (her children). Either way, John's words are a tremendous encouragement to Christians. Second John reads like a personal note to believers. It teaches Christians how to live and stay spiritually focused. Also, like many of John's writings, 2 John sounds the alarm against false teachers. John's writings make it clear that false teachers were a threat in his day. Not much has changed over the centuries.
Second John is a short book (thirteen verses) and will be just one lesson. Notice how the points made in eight of the thirteen verses in 2 John reinforce the message in 1 John. Note also that the word "truth" is used five times in the first four verses.
Second John was written in Ephesus (modern-day Turkey) by the apostle John around AD 90 in the waning years of his life. By now, John is the sole survivor of the original twelve disciples. John was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21-22;
Mark 1:19-20; 10:35; Luke 5:10-11) and Salome, the younger brother to the disciple James (Matthew 10:2), and a fisherman on the sea of Galilee when called by Jesus. John's mother, Salome, and the Virgin Mary were sisters, making Jesus and John cousins. John was a Jew, born in Palestine (Bethsaida) into a wealthy family. He was well connected and knew the high priest (John 18:15). He first learned that Jesus was the Messiah from John the Baptist. John captained a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee but gave up everything to follow the Messiah. Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). John 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20 refer to him as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," quite an honor. John is often called the "apostle of love" because of his concern for believers. In his writings, he routinely calls Christians "my dear children" (1 John 2:1). Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus' inner circle. He was allowed to witness the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while waiting to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). John sat next to Jesus at the Last Supper, leaning on Him (John 13:23). Unlike the other disciples who ran and hid when Jesus was arrested, John followed the Messiah to Calvary, watched the crucifixion, and stayed by Jesus' side until the end. While dying on the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother's care to John (John 19:26-27). It is believed that Mary lived and traveled with John until her death.
After the crucifixion, John became a driving force for Christianity. Bold yet uneducated (Acts 4:13), John wrote "The Gospel According to ST. John," the Three Epistles of John, and the prophetic "The Revelation of John the Divine." Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna), Papias (bishop of Hierapolis), and Ignatius (bishop of Antioch) were all students of John. Late in life, the Romans exiled John to the island of Patmos, a penal colony in the Aegean Sea fifty miles offshore from Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey), for preaching the word of God (Revelation 1:9). He was eventually freed and died an old man around AD 98 in Ephesus. But what a life John led. For three years, he traveled with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the sermons, and witnessed the Messiah's suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. He was the last of the original twelve disciples to die and the only one to die a natural death.
Purpose and Theme:
If you take John's opening words literally, 2 John was addressed to a specific woman in the church "and her children" (1:1). If John's words are taken figuratively, it was written to an entire church (elect lady) and its members (her children). Either way, John's words are a tremendous encouragement to Christians. Second John reads like a personal note to believers. It teaches Christians how to live and stay spiritually focused. Also, like many of John's writings, 2 John sounds the alarm against false teachers. John's writings make it clear that false teachers were a threat in his day. Not much has changed over the centuries.
Second John is a short book (thirteen verses) and will be just one lesson. Notice how the points made in eight of the thirteen verses in 2 John reinforce the message in 1 John. Note also that the word "truth" is used five times in the first four verses.
2 John is broken down into two main segments:
1) Chapter 1:1-6 - (Walk in the truth of the Gospel) Salutation (1:1-3); Walk in truth, love, and obedience (1:4-6).
2) Chapter 1:7-13 - (Live in the truth of the Gospel) Beware of "deceivers" (1:7); Avoid heretics (1:10-11);
Final benediction (1:12-13).
1) Chapter 1:1-6 - (Walk in the truth of the Gospel) Salutation (1:1-3); Walk in truth, love, and obedience (1:4-6).
2) Chapter 1:7-13 - (Live in the truth of the Gospel) Beware of "deceivers" (1:7); Avoid heretics (1:10-11);
Final benediction (1:12-13).
Study Tip:
Take notes.
Notes help us learn and remember.
They keep us organized, focused, and help us follow up on thoughts and questions.
Plus, we can carry notes to review and meditate on as we go about our day.
Take notes.
Notes help us learn and remember.
They keep us organized, focused, and help us follow up on thoughts and questions.
Plus, we can carry notes to review and meditate on as we go about our day.
