2 John Signature
The letter of 2 John 1 is discussed below. Please feel free to use these studies in care groups, Bible studies and at home for spiritual enrichment.
Remember; Test what you read and hear about God and Jesus, everything is not always in line with God's Word.
2John 1:1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all those who have known the truth, 1:2 because of the truth remaining among us, and will be with us forever. 1:3 Grace, mercy, peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 1:4 I rejoiced greatly because I found your children walking in truth, as we received command from the Father.
1:5 And I now request you, lady, not writing as a new commandment, but one which we had from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1:6 And this is love, that we should walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. 1:7 Because many deceivers went out into the world, those not confessing Jesus Christ to have come in the flesh, this is the deceiver and the antichrist. 1:8 Watch yourselves, that we may not lose the things we worked out, but that we may receive a full reward. 1:9 Everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. The one abiding in the doctrine of Christ, this one has the Father and the Son. 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bear this doctrine, do not receive him into the house, and do not speak a greeting to him. 1:11 For the one speaking a greeting shares in his evil works.
1:12 Having many things to write to you, I do not intend to speak by means of paper and ink, but I am hoping to come to you, and to speak mouth to mouth, that our joy may be full. 1:13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
2 John is a letter written to a congregation and a lady pastor in Asia minor. The letter was written to them from a Johannine congregation in Ephesus (Fosloo and van Rensburg, 1999). This author was the oldest living apostle in AD 100, and the chief elder of the Church (Henry, 1706).
The author sets out not choosing to be known by name but by his temperament. The greeting is positive and the spiritual success of the reader is acclaimed. The spiritual success was measured by the moral integrity and the good things that were mentioned about this female church leader. To Henry (1706) this Church leader was a fine matron with children of honour and discipline.
(5:5-11) The doctrine of Christ
In short the doctrine of Christ begins with God's love (John 1:1; 3:16-17; 13:34; 15:9; Rom 5:5) and Christ's commandments (Mat 22:37-40; 28:19-20). Christ being the true and only Son of God, the second in the Trinity, redeemer of those who believe, he died for our sins and is the resurrected head of the Church. If we do not believe in Christ we cannot be saved by his blood, this expels us from eternal life (Heb 5;69:11-28; 2Tim 1:9).
If Christ dishonoured from being the Son of God to a mere prophet, we are acting against the Father who announced Christ as His only begotten Son. If Christ is equalled to other prophets, or of other religions, we are defying God's plan for salvation and degrade the love of God. If the mission of Christ's salvation is rejected then Christ's life on earth was without purpose. If Christ is removed or degraded in a doctrine it is false. The doctrine of Christ is the foundation of Christianity.
(5:12-13) Wrapping up
The apostle seems to have more church matters to discuss but intended to do so on an official visit. He encourages her to be joyous and perceives her to appreciate an apostolic visit. Greets on behalf of the sister congregation in Ephesus.
A person who has a personal relationship with God will know Christ. John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me". This means redemption in Christ allows us access to God. This relationship is an eternal one that is facilitated in heaven by Christ who sits on the right hand of the Father (1Pe 3:18-22).
Studying the doctrine of Christ:
The doctrine of Christ is studied in at least two disciplines, Christology and Soteriology. These are dedicated studies. We can only skim the top of these complex issues in this study. The following are positive acclamations about Christ:
Christ is the Messiah (John 1:41;4:25)
Christ is the Son of God (Mark 1:11; Heb 7:3; 1Jo 2:23; 3:8; 3:23; 4:9; Rev 14:14)
The ten commandments were reduced to two, but ten stay in tact (Matt 22:37-40)
The fundamentals of salvation are through the salvatory death of Jesus Christ on Calvary (Rom 1:16; Act 4:12)
Those who believe in Christ will receive eternal life (John 3:16-17)
Christ rose from the dead on the third day after the crucifixion (Mat 20:19; Mar 10:34; Luke 24:46)
Christ's Great Commission was about discipleship (Matt 28:19-20)
Christ promised of the Holy Spirit to the Church (Act 1:5-8; 2:1-19)
Christ ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father (Mar 16:19 Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11)
Christ will return to fetch his Church, the bride (Mat 25:1-13; 1Th 5:23; Rev 21:9)
Be on the lookout for the twist:
The problem encountered in the New Testament church of twisted doctrine and own agenda is still prevalent in the Church today. We are exposed to many doctrines that have evolved off the gospel of Christ into mere religion. There are people who don't recognise the twist and fall prey to false piety. This is the work of the antichrist, it is subtle and looks like the 'real thing' (Matt 7:15; 10:17; 1Jo 2:22; 4:3; 2Jo 1:7).
The test is: does Christ feature in the fullness, richness, holiness, as saviour of mankind, the risen one, the word, Son of God and above all?
Die boek van 2 Johannes
2Jo 1:1 Die ouderling aan die uitverkore vrou en aan haar kinders—wat ek in waarheid liefhet, en nie ek alleen nie, maar ook almal wat die waarheid leer ken het; 1:2 ter wille van die waarheid wat in ons bly en by ons vir ewig sal wees— 1:3 genade, barmhartigheid, vrede sal met julle wees van God die Vader en van die Here Jesus Christus, die Seun van die Vader, in waarheid en liefde. 1:4 Ek was baie bly dat ek van u kinders gevind het wat in die waarheid wandel, soos ons ‘n gebod van die Vader ontvang het.
1:5 En nou bid ek u, uitverkore vrou, nie asof ek u ‘n nuwe gebod skryf nie, maar een wat ons van die begin af gehad het: dat ons mekaar moet liefhê. 1:6 En dit is die liefde, dat ons wandel volgens sy gebooie. Dit is die gebod soos julle van die begin af gehoor het dat julle daarin moet wandel. 1:7 Want baie verleiers het in die wêreld ingekom: die wat nie bely dat Jesus Christus in die vlees gekom het nie. Dit is die verleier en die Antichris. 1:8 Wees op julle hoede, dat ons nie verloor wat ons deur arbeid verkry het nie, maar ‘n volle loon ontvang. 1:9 Elkeen wat ‘n oortreder is en nie bly in die leer van Christus nie, hy het God nie. Wie in die leer van Christus bly, hy het die Vader sowel as die Seun. 1:10 As iemand na julle kom en hierdie leer nie bring nie, ontvang hom nie in die huis nie en groet hom nie. 1:11 Want die een wat hom groet, het gemeenskap aan sy bose werke.
1:12 Alhoewel ek baie het om aan julle te skrywe, wou ek dit nie met papier en ink doen nie, maar ek hoop om na julle te kom en van mond tot mond te spreek, sodat ons blydskap volkome kan wees. 1:13 Die kinders van u uitverkore suster groet u. Amen.
Johannes 2 is 'n brief wat geskryf is aan 'n gemeente met 'n vroulike kerkleier in Klein-Asië. Die brief word geskryf vanaf 'n Johannine gemeente in Efese (Fosloo en van Rensburg, 1999). Hierdie apostel was die oudste lewende apostel gedurende 100 NC, en die hoofouderling van die Kerk (Henry, 1706).
Die skrywer verkies om nie deur sy naam nie, maar wel deur sy amp bekend te wees. Die groet is positief en die geestelike sukses van die leser word aangeprys. Die geestelike sukses van hierdie vroulike kerkleier was gemeet aan die morele integriteit en goeie dinge wat van haar vertel is. Volgens Henry (1706) was sy 'n fyn dame met eervolle en gedissiplineerde kinders.
(5:5-11) Die leer van Christus
In kort begin die leer van Christus met die liefde van God (Joh 1:1; 3:16-17; 13:34; 15:9; Rom 5:5) en Christus se gebooie (Mat 22:37-40; 28:19-20). Christus is die enigste en ware Seun van God, tweede van die Drieëenheid, verlosser van die wat glo, Hy wat vir ons sondes gesterf het en die opgestane hoof van die Kerk. Ons kan nie deur Christus se bloed gered word, as ons nie in Hom glo nie. Dan word ons van die ewige lewe verwerp (Heb 5;69:11-28; 2Tim 1:9).
Indien Christus gesien word as slegs 'n gewone profeet en nie as die Seun van God nie, handel ons teen die Vader wat Christus as Sy Eniggebore Seun aangekondig het. Wanneer Christus aan ander profete of gelowe gelykgestel word ontken ons God se verlossingsplan en water ons die liefde van God af. Wanneer die doel van Christus se verlossing verwerp word was Sy lewe op aarde waardeloos. Dit is 'n dwaalleer wanneer Christus daaruit weggelaat of gedegradeer word. Die leer van Christus is die grondslag van die Christendom.
Dit blyk dat die apostel meer kerklike sake het om te bespreek. Hy verkies egter om dit gedurende 'n amptelike besoek te doen. Hy moedig haar aan om blymoedig te wees en groet haar namens die sustergemeente in Efese.
In ooreenstemming met die daaglikse lewe
Wanneer iemand 'n persoonlike verhouding met God het, ken hy Christus. Joh 14:6 "Jesus antwoord hom: Ek is die weg en die waarheid en die lewe; niemand kom na die Vader behalwe deur My nie". Dit beteken die verlossing deur Christus gee ons toegang tot God. Hierdie verhouding is vir ewig en word bewerkstellig deur Christus wat aan die Vader se regterhand sit (1Pet 3:18-22).
Bestudeer die leer van Christus:
Die leer van Christus word in tenminste twee studies bestudeer naamlik die Christologie en Soteriologie. Hierdie is teogewyde studies. Ons raak slegs oppervlakkig van hierdie ingewikkelde studies aan. Die volgende is positiewe uitlatings omtrent Christus.
Christus is die Messias (Joh 1:41;4:25)
Christus is die Seun van God (Mark 1:11; Heb 7:3; 1Jon 2:23; 3:8; 3:23; 4:9; Open 14:14)
Die tien gebooie word saamgevat in twee maar die tien bly onveranderd (Matt 22:37-40)
Die grondbeginsels van verlossing is deur die reddende dood van Christus op Golgota (Rom 1:16; Han 4:12)
Die wat in Christus glo sal die ewige lewe ontvang (Joh 3:16-17)
Christus het die derde dag uit die dood opgestaan nadat Hy gekruisig is (Matt 20:19; Mar 10:34; Luk 24:46)
Die groot missie van Christus was disippelskap (Matt 28:19-20)
Christus het die Heilige Gees vir die kerk belowe (Han 1:5-8; 2:1-19)
Christus het opgevaar na die hemel en sit aan die regterhand van God die Vader (Mark 16:19 Luk 24:51; Han 1:9-11)
Christus sal terugkom om Sy Kerk, die bruid, te kom haal (Matt 25:1-13; 1Tim 5:23; Opb 21:9)
Wees bedag op die verdraaiing:
Die probleem wat in die Nuwe Testamentiese kerke se verdraaide leringe en eie agendas ontstaan het, kry ons vandag nog in die kerk. Ons word blootgestel aan verskeie dogmas wat ontwikkel het uit die evangelie van Christus tot slegs 'n godsdiens. Daar is mense wat nie die verdraaiing raaksien nie en dan slagoffers word van valse vroomheid. Die antichris se werk is subtiel en lyk soos die waarheid. (Matt 7:15; 10:17; 1Jon 2:22; 4:3; 2Jon 1:7).
Die toets is: Word Christus geopenbaar in volheid, rykdom, heiligheid, redder van die mens, die opgestane Een, die Woord, Seun van God en bo almal verhewe.
Summary: 2 John 1
2 John (1:1-4) Salutation
2 John (1:5-11) The doctrine of Christ
2 John (1:12-13) Wrapping up
Opsomming: 2 Johannes 1
Het drie hoof afdelings:
2 Joh (1:1-4) Groet
2 Joh (1:5-11) Die leer van Christus
2 Joh (1:12-13) Samevattend
van Wyk P.L. & Ferguson S.D. 2004. 2 Johannes weekstudie, vertaling. Pretoria: Image Ministries.
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