2 John 1

2 John 1:1-13 ADDRESS: GREETING: THANKSGIVING FOR THE ELECT LADY'S FAITHFULNESS IN THE TRUTH: ENJOINS LOVE: WARNS AGAINST DECEIVERS, LEST WE LOSE OUR REWARD: CONCLUSION.

1. The elder--In a familiar letter John gives himself a less authoritative designation than "apostle"; so 1 Peter 5:1
lady--BENGEL takes the Greek as a proper name Kyria, answering to the Hebrew "Martha." Being a person of influence, "deceivers" ( 2 John 1:7 and her children from the faith [TIRINUS], whence John felt it necessary to write a warning to her. (But see my Introduction and 1 Peter 5:13 A particular Church, probably that at Babylon, was intended. "Church" is derived from Greek "Kuriake," akin to Kuria, or Kyria here; the latter word among the Romans and Athenians means the same as ecclesia, the term appropriated to designate the Church assembly.
love in the truth--Christian love rests on the Christian truth ( 2 John 1:3 but "I love in THE truth."
all--All Christians form one fellowship, rejoicing in the spiritual prosperity of one another. "The communion of love is as wide as the communion of faith" [ALFORD].

2. For the truth's sake--joined with "I love," 2 John 1:1 who love in the truth, also love on account of the truth."
dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever--in consonance with Christ's promise.

3. Grace be with you--One of the oldest manuscripts and several versions have "us" for you. The Greek is literally, "Grace shall be with us," that is, with both you and me. A prayer, however, is implied besides a confident affirmation.
grace . . . mercy . . . peace--"Grace" covers the sins of men; "mercy," their miseries. Grace must first do away with man's guilt before his misery can be relieved by mercy. Therefore grace stands before mercy. Peace is the result of both, and therefore stands third in order. Casting all our care on the Lord, with thanksgiving, maintains this peace.
the Lord--The oldest manuscripts and most of the oldest versions omit "the Lord." John never elsewhere uses this title in his Epistles, but "the Son of God."
in truth and love--The element or sphere in which alone grace, mercy, and peace, have place. He mentions truth in 2 John 1:4 FAITH and love; for faith and truth are close akin.

4. I found--probably in one of his missionary tours of superintendence. 2 John 1:12 ; 3 John 1:10 3 John 1:14
of thy children--some.
in truth--that is, in the Gospel truth.
as--even as. "The Father's commandment" is the standard of "the truth."

5. I beseech--rather (compare Note, request thee," implying some degree of authority.
not . . . new commandment--It was old in that Christians heard it from the first in the Gospel preaching; new, in that the Gospel rested love on the new principle of filial imitation of God who first loved us, and gave Jesus to die for us; and also, in that love is now set forth with greater clearness than in the Old Testament dispensation. Love performs both tables of the law, and is the end of the law and the Gospel alike (compare Notes,
that we--implying that he already had love, and urging her to join him in the same Christian grace. This verse seems to me to decide that a Church, not an individual lady, is meant. For a man to urge a woman ("THEE"; not thee and thy children) that he and she should love one another, is hardly like an apostolic precept, however pure may be the love enjoined; but all is clear if "the lady" represent a Church.

6. "Love is the fulfilling of the law" ( Romans 13:10 fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love.
This is the commandment--Greek, "The commandment is this," namely, love, in which all God's other commandments are summed up.