PREFACE TO THE SECOND AND THIRD EPISTLE OF S. JOHN.. SEVERAL ancient writers have entertained doubts respecting the Second and Third Epistles of S. John, supposing them to have been written by John the Presbyter, not John the Apostle. They have been led to think this because the writer begins by c... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Truth's sake._ He means, I love them in the Truth, because they themselves constantly adhere to the Truth, _i.e._ to the true faith. And Electa and her daughters showed that they had this true faith, because they showed it in works of love to the brethren. Therefore did S. John love them. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Grace, mercy, and peace be with you._ Concerning this salutation I have spoken in the beginning of St. Paul's Epistles to Titus, the Romans, and Corinthians. He adds _mercy_ (or, as the Syriac _translation, compassions_) to _grace_, that by the mercies which they had received, and were daily receiv... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because many seducers are going out into the world._ He now passes to the second branch of his epistle, from charity to evangelical truth. For these two virtues are inseparable sisters and companions. Now the word _because_ gives the reason for what he had said in the verse preceding. "I have said... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lest ye lose that which ye have wrought_ : the Greek reads in the first person, _lest we lose_, &c. Lest I should have preached to you in vain, and lest both I and you should lose all our former labour. As the old saying hath it, "There is no greater unhappiness than to remember that we once were h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever goeth back_, &c. The Greek is _παζαβαινιν_, i.e., who _transgresses_. The Syriac reads, _he who passes by, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, has not God for his friend._... [ Continue Reading ]
_lf any one come to you, and bring not this doctrine_, &c. S. John in this place not only advises, as some think, but also commands Electa and all the rest of the faithful not to receive to hospitality, nor say _Hail_, to any one who brings another doctrine, _i.e_. one which is contrary to the ortho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Having many things_, &c. Either because they were confidential, or because letters might perish, or fall into the hands of unbelievers, who would interpret them falsely. _For I hope to come unto you._ This shows that this letter was not written and sent to a lady at Babylon, as Clement of Alexandr... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of thy sister Electa salute thee._ From hence Œcumenius and our Serarius maintain that the name of _Electa_, to whom this Epistle is inscribed, is an appellative noun and the title of some particular church. They think the meaning is, "The children of thy sister, _i.e_. the faithful of... [ Continue Reading ]