INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY: BOOK OF SECOND JOHN

By Dennis Schmidt 3/2001

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This paper discusses the book of 2 John. The letter warns of heresy & false teachers (7-10) entering the church. Not to have fellowship with deceivers. All scriptures are from the King James' version Bible.

SECOND JOHN THEME: WARN OF HERESY THAT JESUS, THE CHRIST, DID NOT COME IN THE FLESH NOR FOLLOW THE DOCTRINES (TEACHINGS) OF CHRIST.

CHAPTER THEMES & ELEMENTS

BOOK STRUCTURE	OUTLINE	CHAPTER(S) THEMES
Introduction - Truth of Jesus	Salutation & Greetings	(1-3) To church to walk in truth that Jesus is God & love is key
Command to love	Love - Walk (life) of the Christian	(4-6) Command by God to love one another & show it in our life
False deceivers & doctrine of Jesus in the flesh	Warning against fellowship with deceivers	(7-11) Warning of false deceivers that Jesus didn't come in the flesh
Closing	Conclusions	(12-13) Benediction & visit

AUTHOR: Apostle John DATE: 90-96 AD FROM: Maybe Ephesus TO: Elect Lady & her children

PURPOSE:

- WALK IN LOVE & TRUTH (JESUS).

- WARN OF FALSE DECEIVERS ABOUT JESUS.

KEY SCRIPTURES:

2 John 6 "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."

2 John 9 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."

KEY WORDS / LOCATIONS: [ truth ] (1, 3, 4); [ love ] (1, 3, 5, 6); [ commandment ] (4, 5, 6);

[ walk ] (6); [ deceiver ] (7); [ doctrine ] (9, 10)

OUTLINE FOR SECOND JOHN

I) SALUTATION & INTRODUCTIONS: {2 JOHN 1-3}

II) LOVE - WALK OF THE CHRISTIAN: {2 JOHN 4-6}

III) WARNING AGAINST DECEIVERS: {2 JOHN 7-11}

A) SAY JESUS CHRIST DID NOT COME IN THE FLESH: {2 JOHN 7}

B) GUARD YOURSELVES AGAINST THESE DECEIVERS: {2 JOHN 8}

C) THESE DECEIVERS DO NOT KNOW GOD: {2 JOHN 9-10}

D) DO NOT BID THEM GOD SPEED OR BE PARTAKERS IN THEIR EVIL:

{2 JOHN 11}

IV) BENEDICTION & VISIT: {2 JOHN 12-13}

Second John: uses the words love (4 times), truth or Jesus (3 times), and commandments (3 times). The Apostle John was the last surviving original apostle alive. He was very concerned with false teachings entering the church. This is a small epistle as he wants to visit them.

I) SALUTATION & INTRODUCTIONS: {2 JOHN 1-3}

WHO: John, the elder, to WHOM: The elect lady and her children

2 John 1 "The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I [ love ] in the [ truth ]; and not I only, but also all they that have known the [ truth ];"

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KEY WORD: {2 John 1-6} LOVE

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(1) {1} I love in truth - the way to love

(2) {3} Grace, mercy & peace from God in truth & love

(3) {5} We are to love one another

(4) {6} This is love that we walk after His commandments

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Elder: The Apostle John call himself the Elder (he is quite old at this time). John uses this address also in 3 John 1. He also uses this title to define his office as Pastor. Elder = Pastor = Bishop etc.

Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."

This is the only New Testament epistle written to woman & children.

This is a personal letter to this woman and her family, however, it does includes God's word to us as partners in the doctrine on Christ.

Elect: God sovereign purpose to call and predestines a person.

See my papers: "Some Saved & Some Lost God's Sovereignty" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "God's Plans for His Purpose. Who Harden Pharaoh's Heart?" for more information on this subject.

God chosen him, before the earth's foundation, for his purpose. Not according to the person's good works, but God's grace for him.

1 Peter 1:2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."

Romans 9:11 "(For <the children> being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)"

Ephesians 1:4-5 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: {5} Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"

Truth: is used as an association with Jesus and his teachings. The Holy Spirit is truth also.

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

1 John 5:6 "This is he that came by water and blood, <even> Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth."

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MISC: {2 John 1} INTRODUCTION

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TRUTH = JESUS

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KEY WORD: {2 John 1-4} TRUTH

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(1) {1} I love in truth & all they that know the truth

(2) {3} Grace, mercy & peace from God in truth & love

(3) {4} Walking in truth as commanded by the Father

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2 John 2 "For the [truth's ] sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever." Jesus sake, which dwells in us forever.

Which dwelleth in us: Dwells = abides.

Ephesians 3:17 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"

2 John 3 "Grace be with you, mercy, <and> peace, from /\ God /\ the /\ Father /\, and from the /\ Lord /\ M Jesus M T Christ T the M Son M of the /\ Father /\ , in [ truth ] and [ love ] ."

Grace: Getting what we do not deserve as compared with mercy: not getting what we deserved.

See my papers: "Grace" for more information on this subject.

Peace: Hebrew word Shalom used for hello, good-bye & God bless you. Only God can give peace to ones spirit of forgiveness & restoration.

Father and the Son: God is a Triunity. God can not be divided. Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are the way the one God reveals himself. If one sees Jesus, he also sees the father at the same time since God can not be separated. Jesus is perfect man and God.

See my papers: "Triunity - Father, Son, & Holy Spirit" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Just Who Is God?" for more information on this subject.

John 14:9-10 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou <then>, Show us the Father? {10} Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

Jesus commandment that we love one another as Jesus loved us:

II) LOVE - WALK OF THE CHRISTIAN: {2 JOHN 4-6}

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MISC: {2 John 4-6} CHRISTIAN WALK

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ACTIVE WALK

(1) {4} Walk in truth which equals Jesus walk (John 14:6)

(2) {6} Walk in love which fulfills the law (Romans 13:10)

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See my papers: "Walk as Jesus Walked" for more information on this subject.

2 John 4 "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children [ walking ] in [ truth ], as we have received a [ commandment ] from the /\ Father /\."

WHEN: I FOUND OF THY CHILDREN WALKING IN TRUTH

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KEY WORD: {2 John 4-6} GOD'S COMMANDS: WALK IN TRUTH & LOVE

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(1) {4} Walking in truth as commanded by the Father

(2) {5} Command from the beginning is to love one another

(3) {6} This is love that we walk after His commandments which were from the beginning

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2 John 5 "And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new [ commandment ] unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we [ love ] one another."

WAY: WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER & WALK IN LOVE

See my papers: "Love" for more information on this subject.

From the beginning: The beginning of their Christian experience.

John 15:12 "This is my commandment. That ye love one another, as I have loved you."

2 John 6 "And this is [ love ] , that we [ walk ] after his [ commandment ]. This is the [ commandment ], That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should [ walk ] in it." Walk in the love of Jesus as a way of life.

III) WARNING AGAINST DECEIVERS: {2 JOHN 7-11}

Deceiver and Antichrist:

The Gnostic heresy states that the Son of God did not become flesh. That God only came into Jesus temporarily between his baptism and crucifixion.

A) SAY JESUS CHRIST DID NOT COME IN THE FLESH: {2 JOHN 7}

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LIST: {2 John 7-11} DECEIVERS

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(1) {7} Many deceivers who say Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh.

(2) {7} This is the deceiver and an antichrist.

(3) {9} Who transgresses and abides not in doctrine of Christ hath not God (Doctrine of Christ: God's incarnation, death, burial, and body resurrection of Jesus Christ).

(4) {9} He that abides in doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son

(5) {10} They come not bringing the doctrine of Christ do not let them into your house (let him teach you).

(6) {10} Neither bid him God speed (best wishes for success).

(7) {11} He that bids him God speed is a partaker of his evil.

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WHAT: DECEIVERS ARE IN THE WORLD WHO CONFESS NOT JESUS CHRIST CAME IN FLESH.

2 John 7 "For many [ deceiver ] are entered into the world, (1) who confess not that M Jesus M T Christ T is come in the flesh. (2) This is a [ deceiver ] and an antichrist."

WHY: THIS IS A DECEIVER AND AN ANTICHRIST.

Who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh:

John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

1 Corinthians 12:3 "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and <that> no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." This is a parallel type passage.

Deceiver and antichrist:

See my papers: "End Time Events - Day of the Lord" for more information on this subject.

1 John 2:22 "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."

1 John 4:2-3 "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: {3} And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that <spirit> of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

John 8:44 "Ye are of <your> father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Deceivers are liars.

B) GUARD YOURSELVES AGAINST THESE DECEIVERS: {2 JOHN 8}

[ CONCLUSION: ] LOOK TO

2 John 8 "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

We lose not those things which we have wrought:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. {25} And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they <do it> to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. {26} I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: {27} But I keep under my body, and bring <it> into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

C) THESE DECEIVERS DO NOT KNOW GOD: {2 JOHN 9-10}

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KEY WORD: {2 John 9-10} DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

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(1) {9} Whoever abides not in the doctrine of Christ does not have God or God's son.

(2) {10} If they bring not this doctrine, do not receive the person in your home or bid him God's blessing.

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2 John 9 "Whosoever (3) transgresseth, and abideth not in the [ doctrine ] of T Christ T, hath not /\ God /\. (4) He that abideth in the [ doctrine ] of T Christ T, he hath both the /\ Father /\ and the M Son M."

Abide in Jesus:

John 15:4-5 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. {5} I am the vine, ye <are> the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

Doctrines of Christ: Doctrines = teachings.

See my papers: "Jesus Life, Events, & Identity" for more information on this subject.

1 Timothy 6:3-4 "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, <even> the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; {4} He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,"

John 6:63 "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, <they> are spirit, and <they> are life."

John 1:17 "For the law was given by Moses, <but> grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

John 12:48 "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

WHERE: RECEIVE HIM NOT INTO YOUR HOUSE

2 John 10 "If there come any unto you, and (5) bring not this [ doctrine ], receive him not into <your> house, (6) neither bid him /\ God /\ speed:"

Hebrews 6:1-3 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, {2} Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. {3} And this will we do, if God permit."

Matthew 7:28 "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:" Jesus had just completed the sermon on the mountain. These are his doctrines.

D) DO NOT BID THEM GOD SPEED OR BE PARTAKERS IN THEIR EVIL:

{2 JOHN 11}

Teaching heresy:

2 John 11 "For (7) he that biddeth him /\ God /\ speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

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During the early church period, the gospel was taken place to place by traveling evangelists and teachers. Homes where used by these missionaries to preach the word and to receive provisions for their journey. Second John urges discernment in supporting traveling teachers or heresy could be propagated.

IV) BENEDICTION & VISIT: {2 JOHN 12-13}

WAIT: I TRUST TO COME UNTO YOU.

2 John 12 "Having many things to write unto you, I would not <write> with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full."

2 John 13 "The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen."

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