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Introduction
to the Second Epistle of John
I.
Writer
The content and writing style of this epistle are
similar to that of the First Epistle of John and the Gospel of John: 1) loving
one another is the commandment which we have had from the beginning (see v.5;
1John 2:7; John 13:34-35); 2) he who keeps the Lord’s commandments loves God
(see v.6; 1John 5:3; John 14:23); 3) the deceivers and the antichrist do not
confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh (see v.7; 1John 4:2-3); 4) full joy
(see v.12; 1John 1:4; John 15:11; 16:24). Therefore
the majority of the Bible
scholars agree that the three books were written by the same author
namely
the apostle John.
The writer of this epistle called himself “the
elder” (see v.1). According to the historical tradition in the church
the
apostle John lived to a ripe old age (see John 21:23)
nearly one hundred years
old. And this epistle was believed to be his later epistle
so he called him
“elder”. Probably
John was like the apostle Peter ---- generally
they were
“apostles”. And locally
they were “elders” in a certain church (see 1Pet.
5:1). Therefore
here the “elder” could also be regarded as “overseer” (see
Acts 20:17
28; 1Tim. 3:1; Titus 1:5). It was said that John had shepherded
believers in
As for the details of the apostle John
please read
the Introduction to the First Epistle of John.
II.
The Time and Location the Epistle was Written
It is said in the
church history that this epistle was written after the First Epistle of John
when the apostle John was released back to Ephesus after the exile in the
island called Patmos (see Rev. 1:9)
about 90s of the first century. Therefore
this epistle might be written in
III.
The Recipients
“The elect lady and
her children” (see v.1) have two aspects of meaning: 1) a godly female believer
at that time in a certain local church and her “family members” (see v.10); 2)
“lady” suggests a certain local church
and “her children” refer to the members
of the church; since the church at that time was faced with persecutions
the
writer had not to mention clearly the recipients. If so
“the children of your
elect sister” (see v.13) should refer to the sister church of the church that
receives this epistle.
“You”
the second
person pronoun
appears many times in this epistle (see 3
4
5
6
10
12
13). Since “you” refers to both a single man and a group of men
the writer may
write to a single person or all the members of a group. Therefore
both the
above-mentioned suppositions make sense.
IV.
The Motivation for Writing this Epistle
Just as the background of the First Epistle of
John
the churches in
V.
The Importance of this Book
This epistle can be regarded as the supplementary
explanation of the First Epistle of John. The first epistle emphasizes that
“loving brothers” is the natural manifestation of life (see 1John 4:7; 5:1) and
he who does not love abides in death (see 1John 3:14). However
if love is
over-emphasized
it will lose the balance. Therefore
this epistle tells us
that love should be according to the truth.
VI.
Main Structure and General Description
Believers have to love one
another except for the heretical false teachers
lest we should share in their
evil works and lose our own rewards.
VII.
Special Points
This epistle has the
following characteristics:
1. There are only thirteen verses in this
epistle
which is the epistle of the least number of verses in the New
Testament. According to the original
there are only 248 words in this epistle
which is the epistle of the least number of words in the New Testament after
the Third Epistle of John
namely
the second shortest epistle in the New
Testament.
2. The form of this epistle is a typical form
of letter in the first century
whose order is: the name of the writer ---- the
name of the recipient ---- greeting ---- the body ---- the finally greeting.
3. Though there are only thirteen verses in
this epistle
the structure and thought are much clear and deep and the main
theme is obvious.
4. Though there are only 248 words in the
original
the key words have repeated more than twenty times
e.g. “truth”
“love”
“commandment”
“walk”.
5. If the recipient of this epistle is regarded
as a housewife believer
this epistle has provided model teachings of a
Christ-centered family life.
VIII.
Its Relations with Other Books in the Scriptures
1. This epistle and the First Epistle of John
supplement each other. The First Epistle points that they who know the truth
will love one another. And this epistle tells us love should not be against the
truth. The emphases of the two epistles balance each other.
2. This epistle is literally written to a
female believer. And the Third Epistle of John is written to a male believer.
They are different in the gender of the recipients. Besides
both of them also
have the following distinct points: a) this epistle warns believers not to
receive heretical false teachers
and the Third Epistle of John praises him who
receives brothers who go out to work and convicts those who are unwilling to
receive brothers; b) this epistle exhorts believers not to share in the evil
works of others
and the Third Epistle of John exhorts us to become fellow
workers for the truth and imitate and do what is good.
IX.
Key Verses
“Because of the
truth which abides in us and will be with us forever” (v.2);
“Look to yourselves
that we do not lose those things we worked for
but that we may receive a full
reward” (v.8);
X.
Key Words
“Truth” (v. 1
2
2
3
4);
“Love” (v. 1
1
1
2
3
5
6);
“Commandment” (v.4
5
5
6
6);
“Walk”
“deeds” (v.4
6
6
8
11);
“Doctrine” (v.9
9
10);
XI. Outlines of the Book
Walk in the Truth
A.
Love and bless one
another in the truth (v.1-3);
B.
This is love
that
we walk according to His commandments (v.4-6);
C.
Do not receive him
who transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ (v.7-11);
D.
Have fellowship with
and greet those who keep the truth (v.12-13);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou