“And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.”
2 John 1:6
Summary
2 John 1 is a brief epistle written by the Apostle John, directed to 'the elect lady and her children,' which could either mean a specific woman and her family or metaphorically represent a church community. The letter emphasizes the importance of truth and love in the lives of believers, urging them to adhere to the commandments given by Christ. John stresses that love is expressed through obedience to God's commands. He also warns against false teachers who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, calling them deceivers and antichrists. Believers are instructed to remain vigilant and not to offer hospitality to those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ, to protect the community from spiritual harm. The letter concludes with John's hope to visit the recipients and speak with them face-to-face to complete their joy.