By: Henry Knapp
When I heard that they were going to make a superhero movie based on “Ant-Man,” I kind of scoffed. Could they really draw out a 2-hour movie based on a superhero the size of a thumbnail? How exciting could an insect-based plot be? Well, I’m glad I gave it the benefit of the doubt—the small hero packed a big punch. Another lesson in not judging a book by its cover.
Which leads us to the Second Letter of John. What a small book! At 245 words, it is the second smallest book in the Bible (3 John has only 219). But, like Ant-Man, in defiance of its length, 2 John packs a punch. Perhaps every age would feel the punch of 2 John, but it certainly seems particularly relevant for us today.
Again, defying expectations, the relevance and impact of 2 John comes even though we are not sure for whom the letter was originally intended. Not just that we don’t know the specific person, but we’re not even sure if the letter is addressed to an individual, “the elect lady,” or if that “lady” is metaphorical for the church as a whole. Nevertheless, it’s clear that the message speaks to us today as well.
If we are unclear as to the letter’s original recipients, we can be more certain of the author—the Apostle John himself, the son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19-20). A comparison of 2 John with the Gospel and Revelation identifies obvious similarities, and the earliest Church tradition marks John as the author. Similarities with 1 John and 3 John also indicate that the three letters were probably written around the same time, most likely sometime in the last 15 years of the century (85-95 AD).
The immediate reason why John wrote his second letter appears to be to remind the church (or, at least, “the lady”) to be discerning in who is embraced as a teacher of the Gospel. Many itinerant preachers and teachers were passing through the area, and not all of them had the truth of the Gospel in mind. Just as today, many promote ideas which are antithetical to the truths of Scripture, and John warns the Church to be wary of such teachers. For us today, this is a reminder to check all things (things you hear in the media, in the culture, in schools and in church) to check them all against the teaching of Scripture.
Of even more immediate relevance for us: John makes his argument by stressing “truth in love,” and “love of truth.” Given the slippery nature of these terms in today’s world, John maintains them both—not in tension, but in the harmony of the Gospel. “Truth” and “love” are not to be played against one another, nor are they to be watered down so much that they lose any meaning. Rather, the Apostle speaks of them in absolute terms—not “your truth” or “my truth,” but “the Truth;” love, not as a fluid possibility, but as a concrete reality.
We are beginning a (short!) series on John’s second letter. In preparation for worship this week, I encourage you to read all of 2 John.
- Why might John refer to himself as “the elder” (vs 1)? If “the elect lady” is metaphorical for the church, why use that metaphor?
- .From the text in verses 1 and 2, how can you tell John’s emphasis on “truth” here? How much does he value it? Why would you think he wants his readers to value it?
- What does it mean to “love in truth” (vs. 2)? What other kind of “love” might there be? What would mark “love in truth?”
- What concrete ideas/thoughts might be behind the phrase, “grace, mercy, and peace” (vs. 3)? What is John asking for here?
- Verse 3 ends with “in truth and love.” What is “in truth and love?” What is John specifying? Can you give an example of where this might be applicable to your life?