2 John
A postcard from 'the elder': love one another, and watch who you let in.
Who wrote it: From 'the elder', unnamed; traditionally John the apostle, the same voice as 1 John. Around 90 to 100 AD.
What it is
The shortest book in the Bible by word count, written to 'the chosen lady and her children', which is almost certainly a church and its members rather than a woman. The elder is glad to hear that some of them are living in the truth, and asks for one thing: love one another, which he says is not a new command but the one they had from the beginning.
Then the firm part. Deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, the same split as in 1 John. Traveling teachers depended on hospitality, so the elder says: if someone comes with that teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them, because hosting them makes you a partner in it. He would rather say the rest face to face, so that their joy may be full.
Verses worth keeping
- 2 John 1:5–6WEB
5Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
Gen Zsame meaning, your wordsAnd now I'm asking you, dear lady, not as a new command but the one we've had from the start: let's love each other. And this is what love is: living the way he told us to. This is the command, just as you heard it from the beginning: live in it.
Love and obedience defined by each other, the way John's Gospel does it.
- 2 John 1:8WEB
Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.
Gen Zsame meaning, your wordsWatch yourselves, so that we don't lose what we've worked for, but get the full reward.
The worry is not losing status. It is throwing away real progress by drifting.
- 2 John 1:12WEB
Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full.
Gen Zsame meaning, your wordsI've got a lot more to say to you, but I don't want to do it with paper and ink. I'm hoping to come and talk with you face to face, so that our joy can be complete.
Text is fine; presence is better. The elder knew that in the first century.
Read 2 John
The full text, every chapter, from the World English Bible, a modern public-domain translation. Pick a chapter below. The whole book is one short chapter.
2 John 1
1The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth, 2for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever: 3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father. 5Now I beg you, dear lady, not as though I wrote to you a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him, 11for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.
12Having many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and to speak face to face, that our joy may be made full. 13The children of your chosen sister greet you. Amen.
Questions about 2 John
Is 'the chosen lady' a real woman?
Possibly, but most scholars think it is a church, since the letter switches between singular and plural and closes with greetings from 'the children of your chosen sister', which would be another church. A minority read it as a woman who hosted a house church. Either way the message is the same.
Does this verse mean Christians shouldn't have non-Christians in their homes?
No. It is about not giving a platform and financial support to traveling teachers who deny the core of the faith, at a time when hosting a teacher meant sponsoring their mission. Jesus ate with everyone. The verse is about not underwriting deception, not about who you can have to dinner.