II John
The second Epistle of John is addressed from "The Elder." This may or may not be the same person as John the Apostle who wrote the Gospel according to John and apparently the 1st Epistle of John and the Revelation.
John the apostle was not fond of calling himself "The apostle" but preferred to write of himself as "the one whom Jesus loved" or as the "servant of Jesus Christ."
In the Gospel and in the first epistle we see prologues of wonderful reflection on the beauty and power of Jesus, who came in the flesh to manifest God to all humankind. In the Revelation, we will see again that John first bears witness in awesome tones to the one who revealed Himself to him on the Island of Patmos.
In contrast, th3 2 short epistles are addressed from "The Elder" to the Elect Lady (2 John) and to the Beloved Gaius (3 John). These are very simple and directive in their tone. It is possible that John the Apostle may have referred to himself as The "Elder" John, since he did assume the leadership of the Church in Ephesus for several years before being banished to the island of Patmos, but clearly we cannot be certain that this is the same John as the Apostle.
Likewise, we really do not know the circumstance of this letter or even to whom it is written. But what is most important is the urgent message, which comes down to us as salient today as it was on the day it was written.
Whether this warning comes from the Apostle writing to us from his pastoral role in Ephesus, or whether it comes from another "Elder John" of the first century church, who used the title hoping to differentiate himself from the great apostle.... Either way, we do well to heed the message that is carried in these verses.
It is a plea to reject falsehood and live in the truth. In 2nd John the focus is on living in love and in the teachings of Christ.
The greetings: 2 John 1 and 13
1. To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth -- and not I only, but also all who know the truth. (NIV)
First let us note that the "Elect Lady" and "her children" could refer to a church that met in the home of a woman whom God had called (or elected) for that work. Likewise it could refer to an individual woman and her household. I think it is more likely written to a church (Elect Lady), and specifically the people of the church (her children.
Was this intended as a private greeting and encouragement? Or was it a note of encouragement to the church body? Does the "Elect Sister" of verse 13 refer to a sister of blood relation? Or does it refer to another church body, related by the mighty blood of Christ? If the ladder is true, perhaps the "elect lady" of verse one is not a female church leader at all-- but rather a reference to the church itself?
These questions are open to our speculation. If they are references to "sister churches" what a wonderful image these two verses evoke!
Verse 1: "To the chosen lady (church), and her children, whom I love..."
Verse 13: "The children of your chosen sister (church) send their greetings..."
This understanding seems most right to me. The church has traditionally been referred to in feminine pronouns due to the image of the Church as the Bride of Christ.
Loving the Truth: 2 John 2-3
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. (NIV)
Christ is the truth that lives within the believer. He said "I am the way and the truth and the life." We must understand this literally. When we commit our lives to the Lord we find that we grow to love the truth, and those who dwell in the truth. Likewise the affirmation of verse 3 becomes our reality. Grace, Mercy and Peace follow in those who love the Lord.
Those who are walking in the truth, and in love: Verses 4-6
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.
