2 John

SECOND LETTER OF JOHN

Recipients and Content of the Letters. Unlike John’s first letter, these two short notes are personal messages addressed to a specific community under the author’s responsibility. Instead of letters, they should be called “short notes or notices” that precede a visit where the issues will be discussed in detail face to face (2 Jn 12; 3 Jn 14).

Second Letter of John. The “first” of these personal notes is addressed to “the chosen Lady and her children” (1), referencing the Church formed by its recipients, a sister church of another local community which he also calls “chosen.” The subject matter is doctrinal, summarized from John’s first letter.
The issue remains the same: many still claim that Christ did not come in the flesh, “any such person is an impostor and the antichrist.” (7). Concerning such people, his advice to those who stay faithful to Christ’s teachings is clear: “do not welcome him into your house or even greet him, for to welcome is to participate in the wicked deeds of such a person.” (10f).