The Word Made Fresh
1From the elder, to the chosen lady and her children whom I love in the truth, and not only I but all those who know the truth. 2The truth abides in us and will be with us always.
3Grace, mercy, and peace in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son.
4I was so glad to find some of your children living in the truth as we were told by the Father. 5And now, dear lady, I am asking you to let us love one another, not as a new commandment, but the one we have had from the start. 6Love means that we will live according to his commandments. You must walk in the same commandment you have heard from the beginning.
7There are many deceivers going around who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Those who do so are the antichrist. 8Be on the lookout for them. Don’t lose what you have worked for, so that you might receive a full reward. 9Those who don’t live by the teaching of Jesus Christ but go beyond it do not have God; those who live according to his teaching have both the Father and the Son. 10Don’t welcome anyone into the house who comes to you without bringing the true teaching. 11To welcome such is to take part in their evil works.
12I have much to share with you, but I’d rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope I can come to you and talk with you face to face, and that will be a joyful occasion.
13The friends in your sister congregation send their greetings.
Commentary
1-3: There is a general consensus among scholars that the author of 1st John also penned 2nd and 3rd John, though there is no widespread agreement as to whom the author might have been (see comments at 1 John 1). In 2 and 3 John he identifies himself only as “the elder.” There is also a great deal of debate over the identity of the intended recipient, “the chosen lady and her children.” Most scholars today support the idea that the “chosen lady” is not an individual but a congregation, and “her children” are the members of the church there.
4-6: John is pleased that some of the members of the church are “walking in the truth,” his phrase for those who keep to the original apostolic witness. The implication, of course, is that some are not. Three essential requirements for fullness of life are upheld in this paragraph: walking in the truth, walking in love, and walking in the commandment. Walking in the truth means to accept the testimony about Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead. Walking in love means to love God and neighbor. Walking in the commandment means to obey the law of loving one another.
7-11: We come to the purpose of the letter. There are teachers claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ who do not teach the truth. Here we get a rare glimpse of what some of these false teachers were peddling: they are saying that Jesus Christ did not appear “in the flesh.” That is, they are denying his human nature. It is likely that this is the same danger John alluded to in his previous letter (1 John 4:2).
12: Having delivered his warning, John immediately brings his letter to a close, saying that he plans to visit and converse with them face to face.
13: In keeping with verse 1, John greets the “chosen lady” from her “sister,” probably a reference to the congregation in which he is currently involved.
This is, by the way, the shortest book in the Bible.
Takeaway
The Church avoids “false” teachers by establishing denominations that have rules to govern organizational structures, styles of worship, and basic articles of faith, and require special training for those who are called to preach. Yes, there are differences among denominations about how best to live the faith, but those differences are by and large honest attempts to understand the call of the gospels. Find a place of worship that feeds your soul, but worship the Lord, not the preacher.