Second Epistle of John
The
Second Epistle of John, normally just called 2nd John or
2 John. It is the 63rd book of the Bible, and the
shortest, weighing in at a mere 13 verses. It reads as
follows:
1 The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I
love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who
have known the truth, 2 because of the truth which
abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the
Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the
Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I
have found some of your children walking in truth, as we
received commandment from the Father. 5 And now I plead
with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment
to you, but that which we have had from the beginning:
that we love one another. 6 This is love, that we walk
according to His commandments. This is the commandment,
that as you have heard from the beginning, you should
walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do
not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is
a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that
we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we
may receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the
doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in
the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet
him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to
do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and
speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13 The
children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
It is addressed to "the elect lady," and closes with the
words, "The children of thy elect sister greet thee;"
but some would read instead of "lady" the proper name
Kyria. Of the thirteen verses composing this epistle
seven are in the First Epistle. Naturally, another
interpretation is possible. In the twelfth chapter of
the Book of Revelation, the writer speaks of a woman and
a dragon. The dragon plots maliciously against the woman
and one of her children, but is frustrated in his
attempts to do them harm. In anger he then pursues the
rest of her children. Verse four of 2nd John reads, "I
rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in
truth." It may be the woman of portent from Revelation
to which this epistle is addressed.
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