2 John

“To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth — and not I only, but also all who know the truth— because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love. It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his command s. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

Comment: It is unknown who the elect lady was. One could speculate it was a) a friend of John’s b) the church c) Mary the mother of Jesus – because of the word chosen and d) anything to keep identity secret.

“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist, Gnostics. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

Comment: The deceivers appear to be, Gnostics, those who deny that Christ came in the flesh because they believe all flesh was evil. So, Christ could not be both God and evil, therefore He was only a phantom. If this belief and teaching is true then there was no atoning sacrifice, no forgiveness, no church and no Body of Christ.

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.”

Comment: This teaching is Jesus is and was God who came to earth to be the atoning sacrifice to all who put their trust in Him through obedience to His message of reconciliation.

Comment: During this time the act of hospitality was giving aid to a traveling Christian brother. But by giving aid to a self-proclaimed Christian brother whose teaching was his opinion and contrary to Christ was considered to be agreeing to his false teaching. They were told, “do not take him into your house or welcome him.”

Key Points from 2 John ➢ The teaching that Jesus did not come in the flesh (God in a human body) is the antichrist teaching that destroys the foundation of the atoning sacrifice – forgiveness of sins. ➢ Welcoming, taking care of physical needs of food and shelter, is showing hospitality and indicates you support their teaching. Therefore, do not give aid, comfort and support to anyone who denies the existence of Jesus, the Christ, by welcoming them into your home.

Question: What is the antichrist?