Second John Bible Studies

This is the page for all my resources and documents for the book of Second John. The first section contains documents that survey the entire book. The second section has a survey video lecture covering the entire book. The next section is broken down by each passage. Click the label of any document or video to expand for access. Click the label of any passage to expand for access to documents and information about each individual passage. In each section, you can also click to see a detailed, annotated outline of this section. Feel free to use and distribute any information you find helpful as long as you give credit where appropriate.

General Documents

Outline

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Outline of Second John

Intro 1-4

Salutation 1-2

Blessing 3

Thanksgiving 4

Body 5-11

Love and Obedience 5-6

Beware Deceivers 7-9

Do Not Receive Them 10-11

Conclusion 12-13

Intended visit 12

Greeting 13

Summary

Introduction Presentation

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Survey Video

Second John Survey

Watch on YouTube

Download Audio

Individual Passages

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1-4 Introduction

Detailed Outline Expand All + All Collapse All X All

1-2 Salutation

1a From: The Elder

The Elder = John, the author

1b-2 To: The Church

1b To the Elect Lady and Her Children

"The elect lady & children" almost certainly = The church & the people

1c-2 Whom I & all who know the truth love because of the truth

1c-e Whom I and all who know the truth love

1c Whom I love in truth

1d-e I and all those who know the truth

1d Neg: And not I alone

1e Pos: But also all those who know the truth

True fellowship around a common object of love - the Truth Himself

2 Reason: Because of the truth

2a Because of the truth which is remaining in us

2b And it will be with us forever

3 Blessing

Blessing:

It will be/May it be

What will be:

Grace

Mercy

Peace

Modifiers:

With you

From God the Father

And from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father

In truth and love

Either describes how these things will be with you
Or describes Jesus Christ

4 Thanksgiving

4a I rejoice greatly

4b-c Reason: I have found your children walking in truth like the Father commanded

4b Because I have found some of your children walking in truth

4c Just as we received a command from the Father

Notice that John rejoices in Discipleship which obediently lives out God's will

5-11 Body

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5-6 The Classic command - Love one another

5 I'm reminding you of the classic command that we should love one another

5a-d I am reminding you of the classic command

5a I am asking you, Lady/Church

5b-d Not a new, but the classic command

5b Neg: Not writing to you a new command

5c-d Pos: But the command we already have had

5c But I am writing to you the command

5d Which we have had from the beginning

5e That we would/should love one another

6 Explanation of the classic command

6a-b This is love - living according to His commands

6a This is love:

6b That we live according to His commands

Literally, "walk according to His commands"
"walk" = lifestyle

6c-e This is the classic command so that you will live by it

6c-d This is the command you heard from the beginning

6c This is the command:

6d Just as you heard from the beginning

6e Purpose: So that you may live by it/walk in it

Just a reminder and encouragement to do what we all know we need to do
We just need motivation and help to do it
Reminder that love = obedience
Love is NOT just a nebulous emotion without content or action

7-11 Reason: False teaching and false teachers exist and are dangerous

7-8 Be on guard against deception and loss

7 Watch out for deceivers that deny Christ

7a Many deceivers have gone out into the world

7b-c Explanation and description of the deceivers:

7b The ones who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh

Theological orthodoxy is one of the true tests of a true church
Don't be so enamored with other things that you forget this important safeguard

7c This one is the deceiver and the antichrist

8 Watch yourselves so that you'll get the full reward

8a Watch/guard yourselves

8b-c Purpose: so that you will receive the full reward that we have worked for

8b Neg: So that you do not lose the things we have accomplished

8c Pos: But so that you may receive the full reward

9-11 How to discern and respond to false teachers

9 How to discern if someone is a false teacher:

9a Neg: Every one who goes beyond and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God

Doctrine/Theology is important
Beware of exploring uncharted theological territory
There is enough Bible to keep you busy for the next 100 lifetimes
You have no need to go elsewhere for your primary theological supply

(You may supplement, but keep the Scripture primary)

Beware of the temptation to be novel and fresh in order to catch an audience
Beware of those who call everything into question based on their experience or worst case scenarios
Beware of those whose final standard of judgment is anywhere but Scripture
There are only two possible final authorities - God speaking in Scripture or the autonomous self

9b Pos: But the one remaining in the teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son

10-11 Therefore: Don't receive the false teachers or you will be a partner with them

10 Don't receive or greet those who do not bring this teaching

10a-b If someone comes and does not bring this teaching

10a If someone comes to you

10b And they do not carry this teaching

10c-d Then don't receive, don't even greet them

10c Do not receive them into the house

10d And do not say a greeting to them

11 Reason: Because the one who greets/welcomes him partners in his evil work

Beware of being light on false teachers
(fight wolves, not sheep or goats)
But don't let the people you influence be influenced by heretics

12-13 Conclusion

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12 Intended visit

12a-b Neg: I don't want to communicate primarily through writing

12a Even though I have many things to write to you

12b I am not willing [to do so] with paper and ink

12c-f Pos: I want to communicate face to face

12c-e I hope to speak to you face to face

12c But I hope

12d-e What I hope

12d To come to you

12e And to speak face to face

Literally "mouth to mouth"

12f Purpose: So that your joy may be fulfilled

-cf. 1 John 1:4

13 Greeting: The Children of your elect sister greet you

"the children of your elect sister" almost certainly refers to another congregation