THE WORD: Love, truth and obedience

We are taking a look at the shortest books of the Bible. Second John precedes Third John in the Bible but follows it on the list of shortest books in the Bible. With 13 verses and one chapter, the second book of John has a few more words than Third John in the King James Version.

The Second Epistle of John is a letter to “the elect lady and her children” but has been widely interpreted as a letter to the church as a whole, with the elect lady serving as a metaphor for the church. Similar to Third John, the second epistle warns early Christians of deceivers and false teachings. This short book also teaches about love, truth, obedience, and the relationship of the three. The book reinforces Christ’s teachings that love is the foundation of God’s commandments. Second John again teaches us to love God and love each other.

2 John 1:6-7

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. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.