2 John - Study Questions
The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
What is an elder?
Who is “The Elder?”
Who is the elect lady?
What do we learn about this lady in the letter?
What does the word “elect” mean?
Why would the author say “whom I love in truth?”
It seems like “truth” is a key word. Why do you think so?
Truth means what in this context?
What do we learn about “truth” in this introduction?
Are there any other truths you glean from this first sentence?
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Why would he say Grace?
What does “mercy” mean?
How would “peace” be understood by the early believers?
What is the significance of “God the Father?”
What do you know about “The Lord Jesus Christ?”
Why did the author say Jesus was “the Son of the Father?”
He combines “truth and love” again. What’s he saying by this?
How would you feel about receiving a letter with these opening words?
I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.
Describe what you think it means to walk in the truth.
What is the “commandment of the Father?”
And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
Why is he pleading with her?
Why is loving one another so important?
This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
What does it look like to walk according to His commandments?
What is the commandment that they heard from the beginning?
For 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.
Who is a deceiver?
Are there deceivers today?
Why does one have to confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh?
Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
How do we look to ourselves?
What are we working for?
What’s the reward?
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.
What does it mean to transgress?
How do you not abide in the doctrine of Christ?
What is the “doctrine of Christ?”
He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
Why both the Father and the Son?
What are some practical ways you can abide in the doctrine of Christ?
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
Who would be coming to them without this doctrine?
Why not receive them into your home?
Isn't it extreme not even to greet them?
How do you share in his evil deeds?
What are the evil deeds?
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.
Can we speculate what the others things might be that he wanted to write but did not?
Why would he want to speak to them face to face?
The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
Why did John not use names?
So why would this closing be valuable?
Created 4 months ago
