Be Not Deceived

2 John 1

5 min read

2 John 1:1-3

A Greeting from the Elder
(3 John 1:1–4)

1 The elder,

To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.

2 John 1:4-6

Walking in the Truth
(John 8:30–47)

4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us. 5 And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

2 John 1:7-11

Beware of Deceivers

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for,a but that you may be fully rewarded. 9 Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him. 11 Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

  • deceivers - G4108 - planosG4108-planos

    • wandering, leading astray, a deceiver
    • Cognate: 4108 plános (a substantival adjective, derived from 4105 /planáō, “wander”) – a deceiver, trying to get others to also veer off God’s course (path of safety). See 4105 (planáo).

  • deceivers

    • refuse
      • to confess
        • the coming of Jesus Christ
          • in the flesh.

  • ANY such person

    • is the deceiver

  • AND

    • the antichrist.

  • watch - G991 - blepóG991-blepó

    • to look (at), see, perceive, discern
    • 991 blépō – properly, to see, be observant (watchful). 991 (blépō) suggests “to see something physical, with spiritual results (perception).” That is, it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert).

  • WATCH YOURSELVESYourselves

  • WHY?

  • BUT

    • that you may be fully rewarded.

  • you do not lose - G622 - apollumiG622-apollumi

    • to destroy, destroy utterly
    • a) kill, destroy
    • b) lose, mid: perishing (the resultant death being viewed as certain)
    • 622 apóllymi (from 575 /apó, “away from,” which intensifies ollymi, “to destroy”) – properly, fully destroy, cutting off entirely (note the force of the prefix, 575 /apó).
    • 622 /apóllymi (“violently/completely perish”) implies permanent (absolute) destruction, i.e. to cancel out (remove); “to die, with the implication of ruin and destruction” (L & N, 1, 23.106); cause to be lost (utterly perish) by experiencing a miserable end.
    • This is also the meaning of 622 /apóllymi dating back to Homer (900 bc.

  • ANYONE

    • who runs ahead
      • without remaining in the teaching of Christ
        • does NOT have God.
        • remain - G3306 - menóG3306-menó
          • stay, abide, remain
        • teaching - G1322 - didachéG1322-didaché
          • doctrine, teaching

  • WHOEVER

    • remains in His teaching
      • has both the Father and the Son.

  • IF ANYONE

    • comes to you

  • BUT

    • does not bring this teaching,
      • comes - G5342 - pheróG5342-pheró
        • bear, carry, bring forth
        • 5342 phérō (“allied to German fahren, Scotch bairn, ‘bear,’ ” J. Thayer, Curtis) – properly, to bear, carry (bring) along, especially temporarily or to a definite (prescribed) conclusion (defined by the individual context). See also 5409 /phoréō (“habitual bearing”).

  • DO NOT

    • receive him into your home
    • or even greet him.
      • receive - G2983 - lambanóG2983-lambanó
        • take, receive
        • a) receive, get
        • b) take, lay hold of
        • 2983 lambánō (from the primitive root, lab-, meaning “actively lay hold of to take or receive,” see NAS dictionary) – properly, to lay hold by aggressively (actively) accepting what is available (offered). 2983 /lambánō (“accept with initiative”) emphasizes the volition (assertiveness) of the receiver.
      • greet - G3004 - legóG3004-legó
        • to say
        • denoting speech in progress
          • a) say, speak, mean, mention, tell
          • b) call, name, especially in the pass.,
          • c) tell, command
        • 3004 légō (originally, “lay down to sleep,” used later of “laying an argument to rest,” i.e. bringing a message to closure; see Curtius, Thayer) – properly, to say (speak), moving to a conclusion (bringing it to closure, “laying it to rest”).

  • WHOEVER

    • greets such a person share in his evil deeds.
      • share - G2842 - koinóniaG2842-koinónia
        • fellowship
        • (lit., partnership)
          • a) contributory help, participation
          • b) sharing in, communion
          • c) spiritual fellowship, a fellowship in the spirit
        • 2842 koinōnía (a feminine noun) – properly, what is shared in common as the basis of fellowship (partnership, community).

2 John 1:12-13

Conclusion
(3 John 1:13–14)

12 I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face,b so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.c

Footnotes:

8 a NE and WH what you have worked for
12 b Literally mouth to mouth
13 c BYZ and TR include Amen.

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