2 John

Author: John
Type of Book: General Epistle
Date of Writing: AD 96
Theme: Spiritual truth and discernment

This second epistle of John was probably written at about the same time as 1 John, or shortly thereafter. John died around AD 100, so these letters are thought to have been written in the late AD 90s.

We don't know exactly to whom this letter was written. It appears to be addressed to a particular Christian lady, "the elect lady", and her children. Some suggest that this letter was written to a particular church, personified as a lady. Still others believe a church was meeting in a woman's home, so both the woman and the church are addressed. But the "who" of the book doesn't matter. The book is inspired by God and has application to every Christian in every age.

In the early church it was not unsual for the people to open their homes to traveling ministers. This kind of hospitality was necessary as various missionaries, including Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, and Silas, had itinerant ministries. But there was also an increasing number of false teachers roaming around. These false teachers often took advantage of the hospitality of new Christians, and did a lot of damage in the early church. The second epistle of John was written to warn against false teachers and to advise the well-meaning Christians to be discerning.

Where the emphasis of 1 John was on the necessity of love, John's second epistle puts the emphasis on truth. Love was not to be offered at the expense of truth. Truth comes first, then love. John instructed his readers that if a teacher denies that Jesus is God in the flesh, then that teacher shouldn't even be allowed in the house. Teachers who are wrong about Christ are antichrists. This sounds harsh, but if we allow the truth to be compromised in the church then we lose our foundation.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith from The Word for Today Bible