February 16, 2016
Scripture Reading: 2 John 1-3
1The elder,
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
Questions for Reflection:
Today we begin our verse by verse study of 2 John. The work that we have put in over the last several weeks in 1 John will help us to interpret and understand the message here. Having a firm understanding of the context of 2 John will aid us in our study.
2 John is one of the shortest letters in the New Testament. According to eminent Anglican scholar, Stephen Smalley, It’s length “corresponds to the conventionally brief length of a private letter which, at the time, would have been written on a single papyrus sheet of standard size (about 25 x 20 cm).” This is a letter written on a single sheet of paper between John and his church in the midst of a battle.
How does John identify himself in verse 1? Why do you think he chose his title or role rather than his name in proclaiming his authorship? Who was he writing to? The phrase “lady chosen” has produced a few hypotheses however most scholars have landed on it referring to the church. Colin Kruse in his commentary says, “In the OT and the Apocrypha Israel is referred to as a wife, bride, mother and daughter, indicating that there would have been some precedent for a Christian community to be addressed in similar terms.”
As you read through 2 John, there are some key words and phrases you need to keep an eye out for. Two words that are repeated often are “truth” and “love.” One commentator says, “Love and truth are the twin stars by which the Johannine church navigated – all else was secondary.” What do you learn about love and truth from the passage above?
Finally, it’s important to notice how John refers to Jesus Christ in verse 3. Why does he include the statement, “the Father’s Son,” on his sentence? Do you remember from your study what was dividing John’s church? One of the major points of division for John had been Christology (relating to the person, nature and role of Jesus). John is making the point from the outset of this brief letter that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. A proper understanding of who Jesus is is essential to experiencing truth and love in our lives. As you conclude your time today, spend time reflecting on who Jesus is to you and why that matters.