The author of this short letter identifies himself simply as “the elder.” So, who is he? Because it contains the same writing style and language that we find in First John, and because the early church fathers always identified this “elder” as the Apostle John, there is no need to dispute the fact that John is indeed the author. But, unlike First John, he addressed his letter to a limited audience, namely, “the chosen lady and her children.” So, who is this “lady” and who are her “children?”

We have two options to consider. The first option is that John, as he ministered in Asia Minor, had met a prominent lady in one of the churches and felt the need to address this short letter to her and her children. The second option, and one that seems to be more probable, is that John needed to use obscure language due to Roman persecution, and addressed his letter to a specific church (“the chosen lady”) along with members of the congregation (“her children”). For our purposes, it doesn’t really matter which option we choose.  

The letter is so short that it doesn’t contain any chapters, as it is only 13 verses. And this letter can be divided into 2 very short exhortations: 1) Abide in the Lord’s commandments (vss. 1-6); and 2) Avoid false teachers (vss. 7-13). He addresses his readers (“the lady and her children,” or “the church and its members”) as those whom,

“…I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever” (2 Jn. 1-2).

 As you can see, John is passionate about “the truth,” and his thoughts probably echo back to his Gospel where He identifies Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6), and where Jesus also called upon His followers to “abide” in Him (Jn. 15:4-7). Therefore, because Jesus is “the truth” of whom John speaks, we could even translate this verse as those,

“…whom I love in Christ (the truth); and not only I, but also all who know Christ (the truth), for the sake of Christ (the truth), who abides in us and will be with us forever” (2 Jn. 1-2).

And then John informs the “chosen lady” that he is not writing a “new commandment,” 

“…but one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments” (2 Jn. 5-6).

After John reminds the church about walking in love, the commandment they had from the beginning, he challenges them to beware of false teachers, whom he calls “deceivers.” These “deceivers” were the Gnostics who denied that Jesus actually came “in the flesh.” Here is John assessment of these “deceivers,”

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist (2 Jn. 7)

He identifies these “deceivers” as “the antichrist,” in other words, those who are against Christ and His message to the world. And then John exhorts these believers to,

“Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what you have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward” (2 Jn. 8).

 John is telling them not to go backward in their faith, but to keep pressing onward to receive their full reward in heaven. And then John stated that if,

“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn. 9).

John is clear about those who do not teach “the truth” about Christ, that they really don’t even “have God” as part of their spiritual experience. God is actually against them if they deny the reality of His Son, that He really did come “in the flesh.” On the other hand, the one who continues in John’s teaching about Jesus, has both the Father as well as the Son. For all those who say that they know and have God, if they deny Jesus, in reality they have neither.

And this carries us into the present day. How many people do you know who say that they “believe in God” but want nothing to do with Jesus? Probably quite a few. Well, John makes it clear that if they deny “the Son” they also deny “the Father,” and as a result, they have neither.

It is my prayer that you will continue in your acknowledgment of Jesus Christ, the One who is the way, the truth, and the life, who came in the flesh to deliver us from sin and rose from the grave to confirm all that He has done for us, and all whom He claimed to be.

Peggy and I send blessings to all of you.