Second John

1:1 The elder (referring to the apostle John, whom this epistle has been traditionally ascribed to as the author ^{2, 3, 4}; one who is old and mature in the Christian faith and experience ^{5, 6}; a term of rank and office or official position ⁷ coupled with age ^{8, 9}).

the chosen lady (personification – a particular Christian church ^{1, 6, 9} probably in Babylon ³; or a Christian woman of some prominence in the Church ⁴, who resided near Ephesus ^{2, 5}). ^{7, 8}

her children (personification – the members of this church ^{1, 6}, spiritual children as in Gal. 4:19, 25; 1 Tim. 1:2; 1 Jn. 2:1, 12; 3 Jn. 1:4 ⁹; or the literal children of this lady ^{2, 4, 5}). ^{7, 8}

love (Gk. “agapao” – intelligently ⁸, intentionally, intensely willing the best for another – Compact Dictionary of Doctrinal Words by Dr. T. Miethe; a non-human love devoid of any sex relation, that is produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer ⁵; not sentimental or humanistic compassion ¹; obedience to God, see vs. 6).

in truth (Gk. “en aletheiai” – in the sphere of truth, as it is in Christ Jesus ^{5, 6}, Jn. 14:6; and/or in connection with the Word of God, Jn. 17:17 ^{5, 7, 8, 9}, according to what God states in His Word, the Bible, is right and best for any and all situations, Phil. 1:9; or sincerely ^{2, 4} or really ⁸; or in reality ¹⁰).

all (ellipsis – Christians). ^{2, 6}

know the truth (i.e., know experientially the truth ⁵, Christ who is the truth ⁶; have come to know and still know ^{7, 8}; know reality, as found in God’s Word, Psa. 119:160; Jn. 17:17 ¹⁰; know experientially the reality of God’s word in Christ and His message ⁹).

1:2 for the sake of the truth (i.e., because of or is motivated by a knowledge of the truth which has been revealed in Christ, Jn. 1:14, 17 ¹; because of Christ ²; or on account of the Holy Spirit, Jn. 14:16, 17; 15:26; 1 Jn. 5:7 ^{3, 6}). ^{7, 9}

which abides in us and will be with us forever (referring to the Holy Spirit ^{6, 8, 9}, which is in agreement with Christ’s promise ³ in Jn. 14:16, 17).

1:3 Grace (Gk. “charis” – blessing/favor ¹ from/of God ^{2, 4, 5}).

mercy (“eleos” – compassion ¹ of God for us in our misery ^{2, 6} and free forgiveness ⁴; kindness and good will toward the miserable ^{5, 8}).

peace (Gk. “eirene” – inner harmony and tranquility ^{1, 4, 5} or wholeness when sin and misery are removed ^{2, 3}; harmonious relations with God ⁶).

will be with us (ellipsis – as an assurance). ^{1, 2, 9}

in truth and love (i.e., in an atmosphere/sphere where truth/ultimate reality and love ⁶ are maintained ² or are in control ¹).

1:4 walking in truth (i.e., living in response to what God has revealed, or being obedient to the truth God has made known ¹; living in conformity with the whole tone of Christianity ²; in the Gospel truth ^{3, 8}; living by the Word of God ^{5, 7, 8} morally and spiritually, as Christ did, who is truth ^{5, 6, 8}).

commandment from the Father (ellipsis – to love your fellow believer, vs. 5; 1 Jn. 3:18, 19, 23). ^{5, 6}

1:5 beginning (i.e., start of your Christian experience, see 1 Jn. 2:7; 3:11 ^{1, 5}; or start of the church ^{1, 5, 6, 9}; or start of Christianity, Jn. 13:34; 15:12, 17).

we (ellipsis – believers). ^{1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9}

1:6 love (is saying and doing with the right/biblical motives, what God has commanded us believers to do toward other believers; it’s action, doing God’s will, and not mere emotionalism/feeling ^{2, 6}). ¹

walk (i.e., live).

commandments (ellipsis – to Christians).

commandment (i.e., to love one another). John goes from commandments (plural) to commandment (singular) because if you love your fellow Christians, you’ll automatically obey all the other commandments God gave you, vs. 6, as to how to treat your fellow believers, similar to Rom. 13:10.

1:7 For (Because there were deceivers/antichrists around, these believers were to love one another ^{1, 3, 5, 6} by watching out for each other, warning, and guarding/protecting each other from false teachers and false teaching, vss. 8-10; Acts 20:28-31; Rom. 16:17, 18; Titus 1:9-11, 13; 2:1, 15; 3:9-11; 1 Tim. 4:1, 2, 6; 6:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 4:2-4; 2 Cor. 6:14-17).

many (see 1 Jn. 2:18).

deceivers (those who lead others astray ² from the right path ⁶; false teachers ¹ who lead others into heresies ⁵). ⁹

gone out (ellipsis – from the Church). ^{3, 5, 7, 8}

Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh (i.e., Christ’s incarnation; Jesus Christ having had a human body and was, therefore, both fully God and fully man, Col. 2:9). ^{1, 3, 5, 6, 7}

antichrist (one who is hostile toward and/or opposes God’s Christ, 1 Jn. 2:18). ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 8}

1:8 watch yourselves (ellipsis – that you don’t compromise by believing these deceivers’ teachings ¹; so that you’re not led astray by these deceivers ³; i.e., give care and caution to yourselves because of the many deceivers and deceits, that you don’t depart from gospel-light and revelation and so depart from God Himself and from communion with Him and the Son ⁴).

lose (ellipsis – your rewards by doctrinally compromising in believing these false teachers ¹; or destroy ^{8, 9}, ruin ⁵, or wreck the church that the apostles had planted there by listening to those who deny the true faith ⁶).

we (ellipsis – apostles). ²

what we have accomplished (i.e., what spiritual labors I/John and the other apostles accomplished among you ^{7, 9}; i.e., in giving you insight/light into God’s word, conviction of the evil of sin, the vanity of the world, the experience of God’s power and gifts⁴).

full reward (i.e., what you could have had in the life to come ² in heaven ³, if you didn’t compromise doctrinally ¹, because wrong doctrine/belief leads to wrong living, e.g., 1 Cor. 15:32-34, which leads to loss of rewards.

1:9 too far (i.e., oversteps the boundary of sound doctrine ¹; goes beyond the limits of true/Christian doctrine ^{5, 8, 9}).

abide in (i.e., continue ⁹ /remain in ⁸, but defects from ¹).

the teaching of Christ (i.e., the teaching about Christ ¹; that which Christ taught at His first coming ^{2, 8, 9}; the doctrine of Christ ³ which guides us to God and salvation ⁴; that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah, Savior, the incarnation of God’s Son in human flesh ⁵).

does not have God (leaves God behind ¹ or departs from God ⁴ so that God is not with this person ¹, neither the Father nor the Son ²; or, ellipsis – does not have communion/fellowship with God, 1 Jn. 2:23 ⁶. It is not dealing with loss of salvation ¹, but loss of fellowship.).

has both (ellipsis – has fellowship with both, 1 Jn. 2:23 ⁶; has a dynamic relationship with both ¹).

1:10 comes (ellipsis – in the role of a traveling teacher ^{1, 5, 7, 8, 9} /minister or professed Christian brother ^{3, 4}; as a Christian teacher, but is false ⁶).

you (is plural here ⁶, you Christians).

this teaching (ellipsis – of Christ ⁷; concerning Christ as the Son of God and Messiah for our redemption and salvation ^{4, 9}; Christ’s teaching ⁶; sound doctrine ¹).

do not receive him into your home (i.e., he should be refused help/hospitality ^{1, 2, 6, 9} /support in their homes and/or church ^{5, 7}).

a greeting (ellipsis – of sympathy, like “God’s speed ²; God/good speed and joy³; neither a cordial address of welcome or farewell, such as “I’m glad to see you” or “I wish you well” ^{1, 6, 8, 9} that gives an expression of approval, encouragement, or moral support ^{4, 5, 7}).

1:11 participates in (shares in ^{1, 4}, fellowships in ^{2, 3, 8, 9}, identifies yourself in ³, or co-operates with, by encouraging , approving, and/or assisting them ^{4, 5, 6, 7}).

evil deeds (ellipsis – of spreading false teaching and leading people astray).

1:12 you (is plural, you Christians). ⁶

face to face (idiom – in person). ^{3, 4, 6, 9}

full (complete ^{3, 6}; completely full ⁵).

1:13 children of your chosen sister (personification – the members of a “sister” church ^{3, 6, 9}, who were sovereignly chosen/elected by God’s grace ¹; or possibly literal children ⁵, or nieces ⁴, of a presumably deceased sister’s family or children ^{2, 7}).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1) The Bible Knowledge Commentary – NT by Drs. J. Walvoord and R. Zuck.

2) The Wycliffe Bible Commentary by Drs. C. Pfeiffer and E. Harrison.

3) Commentary on the Whole Bible by Drs. R. Jamieson, A. Fausset, and D. Brown.

4) Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, vol. 3.

5) Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, vol. 4, by Dr. Kenneth Wuest.

6) The Epistles of John and Jude by Dr. Ron Ward.

7) Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 6 by Dr. A. T. Robertson.

8) Word Studies in the New Testament by Dr. M. Vincent.

9) The Epistles of St. John by Dr. B. F. Westcott.

10) Expository Dictionary of Bible Words by Dr. L. Richards.