The Epistles of John, verse-by-verse

Session 20 | 2 John 9-13

2 John 8-11 | Transgressors

Verse 8 -- see session 19 Verse 9 -- *Note: commentary on this verse has been updated from session 20.* Once again, if you apply this verse to the Body of Christ, then loss of salvation must be a possibility. Can it be stated more clearly than in this verse? The word transgressethπαραβαίνω [parabaino], from the root baino (to embark) and para“next to it." This goes along with *abideth* not“get on board" and to “remain" in the doctrine of Christ (i.e., Messianic doctrine). The one that does not do so hath not God. The one who does so hath both the Father and the Son. The only time that the doctrine of Christ is mentioned elsewhere is Hebrews 6:1-2, where it is said to be built on the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God along with the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Those who rightly divide the Scriptures recognize these things as foundational matters to the Gospel of the Kingdom. When verse 9 is seen as related to the Kingdom, it is in perfect harmony with all Scripture. When it is forced to fit the Gospel of Grace the one doing so must work hard to make it not say what it clearly says. Verse 10 -- The author warns the children that one who rejects this Messianic doctrine is not to be received into your house (an indication they all lived in one house?). There was to be a strong separation between those who hold Messianic doctrine and those who do not. Such a separation was clear in the ministries of John the Baptist and even Jesus. Consider, for example, John's words in Matthew 3:7 or Jesus' words in Matthew 12:34 and 23:31-35. Yet any attempt to tie this into Pauline doctrine would be difficult. Paul speaks of becoming **all things to all **men (1 Cor. 9:22). He went to the Gentiles **to make all men see what **is the fellowship of the mystery (Eph. 3:9). Those who hold this doctrine were not to bid...God speed to the one who rejected the doctrine. The term God speedχαίρω [chairo], a greeting that meant rejoice! or be glad! It has no perfect equivalent in English. The antiquated God speed“God Bless You" in modern usage. Verse 11 -- Note how drastic this is. Even to simply give a basic greeting is to become a partaker of his evil deeds. As with everything in these letters, reconciling them to the Christian life is impossible. They belong to Israel alone. Sadly, however, few recognize this truth and work hard to squeeze this into an obligation for Christians. For example, Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, says, g., a place to stay and money) to anyone who is spreading false teaching and disseminating error." “a place to stay and money."

2 John 12-13 | A Desire To Be Face To Face

Verse 12 -- We would love to know what the many things are that the author wanted to write, but the knowledge was clearly not necessary in God's revelation. The author wanted to write with paper and ink. The paper was made of the papyrus plant and was commonly used both in scroll and book (codex) form. The elder (2 Jn. 2:1) preferred to **speak face to face (literally, mouth to mouth, as in YLT). His desire is that our joy may be full. In 1 John 1:4 the author wrote that your joy may be full, but modern textual critics changed your to our. Here it should be our and there it should be your, as the vast majority of texts exhibit. Verse 13 -- Having made up an identity for the elect lady and her children in 2 John 1, commentaries and preachers must now scramble to make up an identity for her elect sister. For example, Zane Hodges says, “ the earliest years of the faith." I think it best to view the entire epistle as to a particular lady and her children. This lady was blessed with a sister who was faithful and elect, as she had been.

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