• Introduction
    • John, author of 5 books
      • Gospel of John
      • 1-3 John
      • Revelation of John (the Apocalypse)
    • 2 John was written in later part of 1st century AD
    • Gnosticism (central theological issue)
      • Matter is evil (or irrelevant)
      • Creator god an inferior deity
      • Enlightenment is intellectual and mystical more than moral or practical
      • Sinful treatment of body
        • Licentiousness
        • Asceticism
      • Uses similar vocabulary, but the terms have vastly different meanings (as in 2 Cor 11:3-4).
      • Gnostic heresy addressed in several other NT books:
        • Colossians
        • 1 Timothy
        • 1 John
      • Resurgence of Gnosticism in modern New Age Movement
        • Celestine Prophecy and other popular works
        • New Age churches
  • Through 2 John
    1. Elder John
    1. Lady = a church or an individual children = members or literal children. See 1 Pet 5:13.
    2-4. Truth: Objective > subjective
    4. Some children walking in the truth. What does this mean?
    5-6. Love integral to the Christian walk, which is relational.
    7. Denial of incarnation. See also John 1:14, Colossians 2.9
    7. Antichrist(s)
    8. Degrees of reward?
    9. Running ahead of teaching of Christ
    10-11. Endorsement of the false teacher (false Christian). Not that we should be rude towards the person yet we are not to accept him as a teacher.
    12. Best communication is face to face
    13. Children of chosen sister = members of fellow church, or literal children of sister
  • Conclusion
    • Though it is a short letter, there is much for us today.
      • Worldly philosophy may masquerade as Christianity. Watch out!
      • Incarnation is central doctrine of Christianity. To deny it is to deny Christ.
      • The antichrist is not necessarily one individual.
      • Despite temptations to run ahead, we must remain with the gospel message of Christ.
      • There must be a clear dividing line between genuine Christianity and pseudochristianity.
      • Communication is best done in person. For us, written communication is okay, telephone is better, but in person is best.
    • We need 2 John. Without it, our Bibles would not be complete.
    • Please read the letter of 3 John and think about its meaning.
    • For more, please see my book James, Peter, John, Jude.