2 John

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Genre

2 John is a short, specific, and personal letter to an individual. The recipient and the author go unnamed but are assumed in the context of the letter. 2 John could stand on its own, but makes much sense when accompanied with 1 John, with 2 John being an introduction to a specific individual from a known author with 1 John following as an epistle to the group 2 John belongs to and probably leads. I. Howard Marshall, in his New International Commentary on the New Testament entitled The Epistles of John, states “The situation in which 2 John was written can best be explained in a fuller discussion of the problems confronting the author of 1 John. …2 John appears to have been written to the same Christian community as 1 John…” (Marshall, 1978, p. 10). 

1 John. 1 John is an epistle written to an unnamed group of people, often referred to by the author in a very affectionate and fatherly way (21 times) as “beloved”, “children”, or “little children”. However, this epistle begins abruptly and without comment regarding the specific audience or the author. It appears that this epistle was accompanied by some other writing, perhaps 2 John. This would make much more literary sense to both writings. Marshall states “It bears all the marks of being addressed to a specific situation in some church or group of churches known to the author. It is probably best to regard it as a tract written to deal with a specific problem; it is a written sermon or pastoral address” (p. 14). Marshall goes on to states the epistles purpose “was to provide an antidote to the false teaching which confronted his readers” (p. 22)

In this letter, the author alludes to a form of heresy threatening the church in which participation with the heretics is warned against.

Context

This passage is communicated towards the end of the first century during a time in which most of the Apostles had been martyred. There was growing persecution toward the Church, especially in the form of social exclusion. Marshall states “The long-established view that the Epistles were addressed to communities in Asia Minor is still the most probable” (Marshall, 1978, p. 47).

Understanding the difficulties that the audience were enduring because of their faith in Jesus Christ both with Gentiles and Jews helps explain why this encouraging homiletic would be so helpful.

Reading this text with the knowledge of this setting helps explain the author’s use of such intimate titles for his audience.

Within the world this passaged addressed, there was growing exclusion and persecution among Christians. It would have helpful to be reminded from a close mentor (the author) of the believer’s identity in the family of God. This would have been an encouragement aided in perseverance through these difficult times.

Similarly, in today’s current culture, as Christianity is less and less prevalent and protected, the believer’s identity in the family of God is encouraging and helpful during difficult times.

Genre

This passage is the Salutation of the letter stating the name and relationship of the author. The author goes on to address his audience in endearing terms that reveals the close relationship he has with his audience. The author closes his salutation by blessing his audience.

Demarcation

This passage is without a doubt a salutation as it includes all the elements of an ancient salutation. Demarcating the entire letter as on section is understandable due to the brevity of the letter.

The NRSV, ESV, NLT, and CEV demarcate this passage as one coherent section.

The NET includes verse four in the author’s salutation.

The NASB, NIV, and NABRE demarcates the entire letter as one coherent passage.

The MSG includes verses four through six in the author’s salutation.

I. Howard Marshall, in his New International Commentary on the New Testament entitled The Epistles of John, demarcates this passage as one coherent text.

This passage contains all the hallmarks of an ancient salutation, including; the author’s name, the author’s position indicating his authority, the recipient, and a blessing. These textual markers make the demarcation analysis clear.

Some of the English translations have chosen to include the salutation in the larger part of the letter, choosing not to demarcate this short letter.

The Argument of the Text

The author utilizes the formal ancient structure of a salutation to set the tone for his letter. The identifies himself by name and position. He then addresses his audience in endearing terms, again, setting the tone for his letter. The author then concludes his salutation by giving his audience an endearing blessing.

In his salutation, the author clearly sets the tone for the rest of the letter. The tone is authoritative and endearing at the same time.

There are no real issues addressed in this passage. This passage is a salutation from the author to his audience with a blessing.

In this passage, the author is addressing the “elect lady and her children” whom he loves who seems to be an individual in authority over a group of people, perhaps a church body.  Marshall, when speaking of ‘the chosen lady’, states, “This is a metaphorical way of saying “the church and its member.”” (p. 60). Marshall states “Although 2 John is apparently written to an individual, the “chosen lady” (2 Jn. 1), it is probable that this is in fact a way of personifying a community” (p. 10). Marshall continues “He writes like a modern clergyman who might sign a pastoral letter to members of his congregation with “Your vicar” or “Your pastor” without adding his name (which would of course be familiar to them)” (p. 59). Marshall also describes that the term the author uses for ‘love’ is rare in secular writing and was probably utilized primarily in Christian circles to describe the love that God has for people and that people are to show toward God and then people are to show toward one another.

In this passage, the author is not yet asking his audience to do anything, he is just greeting and blessing his audience.

In the co-text, the author alludes to a form of heresy threatening the church in which participation with the heretics is warned against.

This passage gets its message across through a straight-forward salutation.

The author leaves out his own identity, the identity of “the lady” and the identity of “her children”. The identity must be assumed through the allusions given in the co-text.

This passage is about an elder greeting and blessing a friend and the people he/she is in authority over.

The Co-text

Development of Important Words/Motifs:

• Elder. The term “elder” could have a wide range of meanings, none of which would dramatically change the nature of the letter. Regardless, there is a sense of authority the author has over his audience, whether it is loosely structured or a formal office.
  • In the earliest sense, it would simply mean an “old man”.
  • Secondarily, the term was used in the early days of the church for a group of men having a loose structure of authority over the church body.
  • Finally, the term came to identify a formal office in the ecclesial structure of the church, similar to bishop or superintendent as used today.
• The lady and her children. There is a range of meanings offered for this motif, from a literal meaning of a family’s mom and her literal children to the more accepted metaphorical meaning of a church and its members, which becomes obvious from the context of the letter.
• Truth. In this very short passage, the author refers to truth four times. The author is establishing the basis for underlying theme of his letter, truth.

Without reading further, one cannot know the situation of the lady and her children that the elder is addressing.

This passage is the “story of God and God’s people”. In this passage, an elder, lovingly, addresses a leader and his followers delivering a blessing. This is how the kingdom of God is to work. Mature believers are to minister and serve other believers by being an example of Christ and passing the baton of leadership on to them. This is the “story of God and God’s people”.

Genre

The author, in this passage, exhorts his audience to be aware of false teachers, gnostics, and to have nothing to do with them.

Demarcation

There are two ways this passage is generally demarcated. It is either demarcated as this study indicates or the entire letter is included as one coherent section. The exhortation in this passage is distinct from the remainder of the letter as it deals with a specific issue. Demarcating the entire letter as on section is understandable due to the brevity of the letter.

The NRSV, ESV, NET, NLT, and CEV includes v. 7-11 in this passage, entitling it Truth and Love (NRSV).

The NASB, NIV, and NABRE demarcates the entire letter as one coherent passage.

The MSG includes verses twelve and thirteen in this passage, entitling it “Don’t Walk Out on God”.

I. Howard Marshall demarcates this passage as one coherent section, entitling it “Living in Truth and Love”.

The section prior to this passage begins the body of the letter proper, in which the author gives encouragement and an exhortation on love. In this section, the author transition to a new topic, false teachers and cooperating with them.

Some of the English translations have chosen to include the salutation in the larger part of the letter, choosing not to demarcate this short letter.

The Argument of the Text

The author utilizes an exhortation to get his message across. He presents the conflict, false teaching about the nature of Jesus Christ, and then exhorts his audience on how to respond appropriately.

The author, in his salutation and the passage prior to this, speaks to his audience in endearing terms. This helps make sense out of the relationship between the author and his audience. Howard proposes that “the children” were a group of church members that visited him and are now returning to the church (the lady) with his letter in hand. Marshal states, “The elder now issues the first of two exhortations to the church as a whole; the address, “dear lady,” shows that he is addressing all the members and exhorting them to live in the same way as the members with whom he has had personal contact” (p. 66).

The issues in this passage are;

• False teachers.
• Associating with false teachers.

The author is addressing the “elect lady and her children” whom he loves who seems to be an individual in authority over a group of people, perhaps a church body.  Marshall, when speaking of ‘the chosen lady’, states, “This is a metaphorical way of saying “the church and its member.”” (p. 60). Marshall states “Although 2 John is apparently written to an individual, the “chosen lady” (2 Jn. 1), it is probable that this is in fact a way of personifying a community” (p. 10). Marshall continues “He writes like a modern clergyman who might sign a pastoral letter to members of his congregation with “Your vicar” or “Your pastor” without adding his name (which would of course be familiar to them)” (p. 59). Marshall also describes that the term the author uses for ‘love’ is rare in secular writing and was probably utilized primarily in Christian circles to describe the love that God has for people and that people are to show toward God and then people are to show toward one another.

In this passage, the author is the audience to stay faithful to what they have been taught and not to associate with false teachers.

The author alludes to a form of heresy threatening the church in which participation with the heretics is warned against.

This passage gets its message across through a straight-forward exhortation.

The author leaves his own identity, the identity of “the lady” and the identity of “her children”. The identity must be assumed through the allusions given in the co-text.

This passage is about an elder protecting his audience by warning them of the dangers and exhorting them on how to interact with false teachers.

The Co-text

In his salutation, the author addresses his audience with an endearing, establishing the tone of the letter. In the salutation, the author also establishes his authority over his audience, again in endearing terms.

Prior to this passage, there is not much in the co-text so far that influences the setting, the conflict, or the argument.

Development of Important Words/Motifs:

• Deceivers. In this passage, the author warns his audience against those who are deceivers of the truth.
• Jesus Christ. The author is clear that at the center of proper teaching is the truth of Jesus Christ.
• Abide. The author exhorts his audience to abide in the truth of what they have been taught.

This passage is the conclusion of the teaching in this letter. The next passage is the authors Conclusion/Final Greeting.

Intertext

Passages brought to mind by a reading of this one and how this might this inform a canonical reading of this text?

• Matthew 9:11. “11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” In this passage, Jesus associates with “sinners”. There is a difference between people who need to hear the truth of Christ and teachers promoting heresy.
• Matthew 11:18-19. “18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”” There is a difference between people who need to hear the truth of Christ and teachers promoting heresy.

This passage is the “story of God and God’s people”. In this passage, an elder, lovingly, addresses a leader and his followers delivering an exhortation to protect and warn his audience. The author exhorts his audience to remain faithful by abiding in the truth of the teaching they have received regarding Jesus Christ. This is the “story of God and God’s people”.

2 John 1:9 (NRSV)

9 Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Main Verbs

Abide

Goes

Have

Abides

Has

Verbs  

Abide

• Tense – Future
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Active

Goes

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Subjunctive
• Voice – Active

Have

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Passive

Abide

• Tense – Future
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Active

Has

• Tense – Present
• Mood – Indicative
• Voice – Passive