Book -- Chapter 4 -- II John

     Today, I am posting another chapter of my book.  You will notice that I am posting chapter 4 on II John and not chapter 3 on Philemon.  I will post the chapter on Philemon next week as I am not quite satisfied with it yet.

     I would ask that you would please pray that the heavy rain predicted for my area would not cause any problems.  Thank you for your prayers.

Chapter 4 – II John

    

     Now that we have fleshed out the issues from the book of Philemon, it is time to turn our attention to the epistle of II John.  This book is the smallest book in the New Testament.

     Currently, there are two prevalent theories as to the authorship of II John.  Almost all of the more conservative Bible scholars that I am familiar with hold to the view that the Apostle John is the author of II John.  Another prevalent view believes that the Apostle John was not the author.  This group holds the view that an elder by the name of John who was a leader in the church at Ephesus was the author of not only II John but was the author of III John and Revelation as well.

     This later version is given credence due to the fact that in II John, the author identifies himself by the title of elder and does not refer to himself as an apostle.  To me, this seems scant evidence to base the idea of non-apostolic authorship upon.

     I believe that the deciding factor in determining who was the author of II and III John comes from church history.  Irenaeus was a church father who was a student of Polycarp.  Polycarp knew the Apostle John personally.  As far as Irenaeus was concerned in his writings, John the Apostle wrote both II and III John.  Many other church fathers concurred with this opinion.

     Those who study II John should also note another debate among Bible scholars.  This debate revolves around to whom the book was written.

     In the opening verse, John states that he is writing to the elect lady and her children whom he loves in the truth.  Just who is this elect lady John is addressing?

     Some Biblical scholars hold to the idea that John was writing to a woman that he knew who may have had a church that was meeting in her home.  This would make II John a very personal letter along the lines of Philemon which was also written to an individual.

     The majority of Bible commentaries hold to a second view, and this is the view that I find myself to be in agreement with.  In this view, John’s address to the elect lady and her children is a figurative way of addressing a local church and its members. This would be in keeping with the idea that the church is the Body of Christ.  This particular viewpoint would also make sense in light of the ending of the epistle when John speaks about greeting the elect lady’s sister.

     Whichever view one holds in this matter, the fact remains that II John is a very important work that has some important messages for us to focus on in the 21^st century. 

    One of the first things that strikes me in II John is John’s continuing pastoral concern.  It seems to me that John was instrumental in founding the church to which II John is written.  I imagine that he worked very hard in establishing this community of believers before moving on to bring the message of Jesus to others.

     John was glad to hear good reports regarding his former congregation.  I can’t imagine much worse than starting a church, seeing it grow and mature and then find out a few years after you’ve left that the congregation is defunct or just barely hanging on to its existence.  It would also be bad to find out that a congregation you had invested so much energy in had given up the teaching of sound doctrine and become non-effective in the promotion of the true faith.  John was happy that none of this was the case with the church that he had helped to build.

     The first major theme that John addresses in II John is the importance of love.  Those of you familiar with I John will recognize the importance the theme of love is given in that epistle.  John says in verse 4 of II John, “And now I ask you lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.”  This is what John wanted for those he taught more than anything.  He wanted them to walk in love and to live in love.  The reason being is that this is the same commandment that John received from Jesus when the Lord taught His disciples during the Upper Room Discourse.

     Jesus said in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”  Jesus would also state that the way that people in the world would know that we are His disciples is by the love that His followers would demonstrate towards one another.

     Love is important because Jesus’ ministry is based upon love.  The whole reason that Jesus came to this earth is because He loved us so much.  Because of His great love for us, He was willing to lay down His life on the cross bearing our sins in His body on that tree.  He loved us enough to show us the proper path to follow and the right way to live in this world.  Since Jesus demonstrated such great love for us, He expects us to show his love to others.  We are not called to love just our friends, family and our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are called to love everyone so that they might see Jesus and receive the life and forgiveness that He offers to all who will believe in Him.

     Love for one another is the way in which others will be drawn to the message of Jesus.  When believers do not act out of love for each other, it causes a bad testimony to be created, and people are not then attracted to learn more of the message we have to share about the Lord Jesus. 

     John makes it clear in his first epistle that if we can’t love our brothers and sisters who we can see, how will we be able to love God whom we cannot see.  The people in Antioch were first called Christians the Bible says because of the great love that they had for one another.

     The reason that following the love commandment is of such vital importance is because of the fact that Jesus was all about love.  When I think of Jesus and His ministry on this earth, love is the first thing that comes into my mind.  Jesus loved people and demonstrated great compassion for those whom society and the religious establishment rejected.  Jesus’ love ultimately led him to Calvary where out of love He sacrificed His life to redeem us from our sins.

     So, when we act in love, we are acting like Jesus.  We are showing to the world who our Lord really and truly is. 

     The next theme dealt with in II John is the issue of false doctrine in the church.  John says in verse 7 that many deceivers who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh have gone out into the world.  According to John, these people possess the spirit of antichrist because they are opposed to sound doctrine.

     In John’s day, there were some who taught that Jesus did not have an actual physical body.  Therefore, Jesus didn’t really die on the cross since He wasn’t really in the flesh.  Scripture clearly states that this is a false belief.  John wanted to make sure that this type of false teaching did not enter the churches in which he had a part.

     Just as in John’s day, there are a number of false teachings trying to make their way into the church.  One of the major false teachings about Jesus denies the divinity of Jesus.  Jesus in honored as a good man, good teacher and a prophet, but He is not honored as the God of the universe come in human form.  Any teacher who denies the divinity of Jesus should be avoided in keeping with the advice given by John in this epistle.

     John goes so far as to state in verse 10 and 11 that hospitality should not be afforded to those who deny the essential doctrines surrounding the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

     Doctrine matters.  What a person believes about Jesus and what His life, death and resurrection has accomplished is crucial for one’s eternal destiny.  Churches and their pastors must be on guard against false belief. 

     One of the best ways to guard against false teaching is to be firmly established in the truth.  Begin by reading the Word so that you will not be led astray. If you have never read through the entire Bible, I would strongly urge you to do so. Pastors need to systematically teach the Word, especially the words of Jesus.  Believers need to attend churches where the Word of the Lord is taught and proclaimed.

     II John may be a very small book, but the messages that it contains are very relevant for us today.  Let’s now see what III John has to teach us.