2 John 1:1-13

A Study of 2nd John

The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth - because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.

1. Who are the chosen lady and her children?
While some take this to refer to a specific individual and her children, most commentators believe it refers to a specific church and its members. Female language for the church is not foreign to the Bible and the author may have had some (covert?) motivation for wording it as he did. The body of the document fits better with a group than an individual woman.


It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 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. 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.

2. Why this trio of truth, love & obedience?

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. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 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. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

3. How do we identify a deceiver?
- A deceiver denies something essential about Jesus
- A deceiver adds something non-essential as essential

4. How important is it to continue in Christ after you initially become a Christian?
- If you do not continue, you may lose your rewards
- If you do not continue, you may lose your salvation

5. How do we balance hospitality with this command not to welcome false teachers?
- Since we have interpreted the 'chosen lady' to be a church, and since a house was their equivalent to our church building, we should interpret this to be a command against giving false teachers a forum to spread their deceptions. This is, then, not a command against individual Christians inviting JW's (for example) into their home to discuss the Scriptures.

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. The children of your chosen sister send their greetings.

6. Who is the chosen sister?
- Most likely this refers to the church from which John (the author) is writing.