What Is The Purpose Of The Book Of 2nd John? A Bible Study

Why did the Apostle John write the Book of 2nd John? What was his purpose in such a short book?

The Author

The author of the Book of 2nd John is clearly the Apostle John and was likely written after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple as well as countless numbers of Christians and Jews in AD 70. The date suggested is about AD 85-95 just as 1st John (AD 85-95) and 3rd John (AD 85-95) are. They must have been written in relatively rapid succession. Even though it was time of severe trials and persecution for the church, John wrote to them to encourage them in the love that they had already been showing.

The Purpose

Just as in the Book of 1st John, John is concerned with false teachings creeping into the church. He writes that “many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist” (John 1:7), therefore “Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward” (1st John 1:9). The obvious truth is that “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son” (1st John 1:9) “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works” (1st John 1:10-11).

The Focal Point

The Apostle John’s main focus on this very small, one chapter book is to watch out for the false teachers and their heretical teachings. The proof of whether their teachings are true or not are whether someone abides in the teachings of Christ or if they are not remaining in the teachings of Christ. If they’re not, then they’re not abiding in Christ, no matter what they say.

The Command to Love

Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment and it was to love one another, just as He loved them (John 13:34) which is why John wrote “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father” (2nd John 1:4). This wasn’t really “a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another” (2nd John 1:5) and this is what that kind of love looks like: “that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it” (2nd John 1:6). God’s truth “abides in us and will be with us forever” (2nd John 1:2). Jesus equated love for Him as obeying His commandments (John 14:15). That should be our practice in life; thereby it should “be with us forever.”

Conclusion

The Apostle John’s Book of 2nd John is unique to time and history but it isn’t unique to Jesus’ teachings to love one another, to walk in obedience to Jesus’ commands, and to have that be our regular walk in life. It’s not so much a plan of salvation as it is the Man of salvation; Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). For He says to all, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). John sums it up precisely by writing “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son” (2nd John 1:9).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.