2 John
“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” (2 John 3) Each faithful person will develop a gracious nature, seek to fix what has been causing problems for others (mercy), and will be at peace in this broken world. Such lofty goals reside in those who live in reality based on evidence and who are selflessly concerned for others.
“Now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which you have had from the beginning: that we love one another.” (2 John 5) Christianity has suffered under self-appointed theologians for centuries. Various groups have their own lists of “commandments.” But John was simple and direct. Everything will work if the faithful just look out for the best interests of the others without regard to the effect on themselves.
“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.” (2 John 12) John knew the difference in value between personal and impersonal communication. The impersonal imparts information; the personal imparts joy. The message may be the same, but the personal touch makes a distinct difference.
2 John 4, “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.” John found joy in a writing about the gospel (1 John 1:4), and upon encountering faithful people from elsewhere (2 John 4 and 12, 3 John 4). Remember that the commandments John referenced are faith and love (1 John 3:23). The modern faithful would do well to have the same attitude: sharing their joy by letting the distant faithful know about those positive encounters.
2 John 7, “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.” Some groups exist even today who classify the earthly ministry of Jesus as mythological, as fables cobbled together centuries after the fact. Yet, they still assert the value of the teachings of Jesus, just not its historical validity. Paul (1 Corinthians 15:19) called such people pitiable. John (2 John 10) considered such people irrecoverable. The condescension of such deceivers attracts only the weak minded.
2 John 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.” Written communication has been used for thousands of years. The present electronic age has made the process faster and easier, but the same problems are exacerbated. John noted the far superior benefits of face-to-face communication. The faithful should plan for such visits so that their joy may be made full, too.
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