Bible Commentary / New Testament
2 John
The greeting is already doing the letter's main work. The elder addresses the "elect lady and her children" with love defined "in truth," expands that bond to all who know the truth, and explains it by the truth that abides in believers and remains with them. Verse 3 then names grace, mercy, and peace as coming from t…
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Literary units
2 John 1:1 - 2 John 1:3
Greeting and purpose
The greeting is already doing the letter's main work. The elder addresses the "elect lady and her children" with love defined "in truth," expands that bond to all who know the truth, and explains it by the truth that abides in believers an…
2 John 1:4 - 2 John 1:6
Joy in walking in the truth and love
John expresses joy that some of the lady's children are actually walking in the truth, then turns that joy into an appeal: the community must keep the command they have had from the beginning, namely, to love one another. Verse 6 prevents…
2 John 1:7 - 2 John 1:11
Warning against deceivers and false teachers
John moves from the command to love into a warning about deceivers who deny Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. Because such teachers are active, the church must watch itself, remain in the teaching of Christ, and refuse the kind of house…
2 John 1:12 - 2 John 1:13
Final instructions, greeting, and benediction
John closes by holding back further written comment in favor of a personal visit and by sending greetings from the children of the recipient’s “elect sister.” The ending is conventional, but not empty. After the prohibition of greeting dec…