Meditation

Hi there,

This week we are copying out two of the five books the Apostle John contributed to our Bible.

Starting with 2 John the shortest of his three letters, and indeed the shortest book in the Bible. Notably, it is also the only book addressed to a woman. The woman herself is unknown, and there is a possibility that the address to a woman is coded to avoid persecution.

The letter has the same theme as Jude's letter last week. The importance of forcefully rejecting false teaching and false teachers. Although with a very different tone...it is no less forceful for that.

Today's opening verses are anchored on the importance of holding to the truth. The truth in question being the fact of Jesus's humanity and deity.

As verse 3 makes clear, for John, Truth and Love are indivisible. What binds believers together in love is the common sharing of and belief in the truth.

Love is discerning.

Today's text is 2 John 1-3 (and is called out in black)

2 John

1 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

Encouragement

John proved ultimately to be a prolific writer, with one of the Gospels, three letters and the book of Revelation all attributed to him.

Although the exact dates of each book's writing are subject to different scholarly opinions, it is generally accepted that the Gospel of John was written between 90 and 100 AD, while the three letters of John (1 John, 2 John, and 3 John) were composed around the same time period. It is also traditionally held that John wrote the Book of Revelation sometime between 70 and 100 AD.

Born in AD 6, the letters and writings we have of his were thus authored very late in life.

Proving It's never too late to start!

Andy

God's word in your hand

I've attached this explanation of 2 John from Bible Study Tools to help provide additional insight and an overview of the letter.

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...and don't worry about your handwriting.

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