PART V
II and III John
CHAPTER XVII
LETTER TO
THE ELECT LADY AND HER CHILDREN
II John
A.
Background
1.
Who wrote II John?
The majority of modern scholarship agrees that II John, as well as III John, is written by the author of the Fourth Gospel and I John. This is so obvious that many early scribes included second and third John as part of first John in their manuscripts. The term the elder with which the author addresses himself to his reader neither confirms nor denies this.
2.
To whom is it written?
The destination of the letter, initially, is not so well agreed upon. Theissen lists five views concerning the original recipient of Second John.
Jerome held that the letter is addressed to the whole church. Light-foot, Brooke and Zahn contend that it is addressed to some particular local congregation. Wordsworth believed it was intended primarily for the church in Babylon. Others have held that it was addressed to some notable lady.
Among those who hold this latter view, there is disagreement. Law says it is addressed to one Lady Electa. Bengel believes that the Greek kuria (usually rendered lady in II John) is the Hellenistic form of the Hebrew Martha.
It is possible that Second John is a personal letter addressed to a Christian woman of some influence who was a personal friend and coworker of the author. However, this seems unlikely for reasons we shall mention shortly.
I find it very difficult to agree with A, T. Robertson's statement, The obvious way of taking it is a woman of distinction in one of the churches. It hardly seems plausible that any single individual could be said to be loved by everyone who knows the truth (2 John 1:1). Further, throughout II John the eklekte kuria (elect lady) is sometimes addressed in the plural (2 John 1:6; 2 John 1:8; 2 John 1:10; 2 John 1:12) as well as the singular (2 John 1:1; 2 John 1:4-5; 2 John 1:13). One may address a congregation with the singular when thinking of it collectively, or with the plural when thinking of the individual members. One would hardly address a particular lady of close intimate acquaintance with a plural.
It seems likely that the letter is, as are the other writings of John, a circular letter intended to be read in all the congregations in and about a certain area.
B.
The Text
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth; (2 John 1:2) for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us forever: (2 John 1:3) Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. (2 John 1:4) I rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father. (2 John 1:5) And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a commandment, but that which we had from the beginning that we love one another. (2 John 1:6) And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it. (2 John 1:7) For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 1:8) Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. (2 John 1:9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:10) If anyone cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: (2 John 1:11) for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works. (2 John 1:12) Having many things to write unto you I would not write them with paper and ink; but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full. (2 John 1:13) The children of thine elect sister salute thee.
C.
Try to Discover
1.
Who is the old one ?
2.
Who is the elect lady?
3.
Is there more to 2 John 1:3 than the mere formality of greeting?
4.
Who are the children of 2 John 1:4?
5.
What is the purpose of John's writing in II John?
6.
Why is II John so short?
D.
Paraphrase
The Elder unto an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I alone, but all those also who understand the truth, (2) for the sake of the truth that abideth in us and with us shall be until times age-abiding (3) Favour mercy peace shall be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love. (4) I rejoiced exceedingly in that I had found from among thy children such as were walking in truth, even as a commandment we received from the Father. (5) And now I request thee lady, not as writing a new commandment unto thee but one which we were holding from the beginning That we should be loving one another. (6) And this is love, that we should be walking according to his commandments: This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning that therein ye should be walking. (7) Because many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in flesh: This is the deceiver and the antichrist. (8) Be taking heed unto yourselves, lest ye lose what things we earned, but a full reward ye may duly receive. (9) Every one that taketh a lead and abideth not in the teaching of Christ hath not God: He that abideth in the teaching the same hath both the Father and Son. (10) If anyone cometh unto you and this teaching doth not bring be not receiving him home and Joy to thee! do not say; (11) for he that biddeth him rejoice hath fellowship with his wicked works. (12) Though I had many things to you to write I was not minded to say them with paper and ink; but I hope to come unto you, and mouth to mouth to talk, that your joy may be made full. (13) The children of thy chosen sister salute thee.
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