Greeting to the elect lady (1:1 – 3)
Walking in the truth (1:4 – 1:6)
Dangers of deception (1:7 – 11)
Anticipation of future fellowship (1:12-13)
- to urge God’s people to continue walking in the truth as the only path of safety
- to warn against false teachers
- to identify the essence of all error
- to teach separation from false Christians
- to guard believers against losing their spiritual rewards
- to give practical instruction on hospitality and show its limits
- to anticipate the blessing of future fellowship
Bible Commentary on The Second Epistle of John
by Dr Peter Masters, Metropolitan Tabernacle, London (adapted from sermons)
John writes as the last survivor of the apostles. He calls himself John the elder or the old man, and he feels his responsibility. He writes most probably between AD 90 and 95, and he writes to one he describes as the ‘elect lady’. Some would have it that the Greek word for lady is actually a name, Kyria, but it is much more likely that the translators in most versions have it right and describe her as the ‘elect lady’.
John, the apostle of love, is here compelled to write on a very negative theme. In the main part of his first epistle he deals with the wonderful subject of love. Obviously we should not regard him as some negative character always beating his negative drum. His closing words show why he finds it necessary to warn: because in his faithfulness he feels under obligation to protect the Church of Christ and all its members so that they continue in the undiminished joy which the Spirit of God desires us to have.