INTRO TO 2 JOHN: Hey Nice Christians - Don't be Suckers!
- Thad DeBuhr
- Jul 18
- 10 min read
You know that feeling when you're trying to figure out what's true and what's just a load of hot air, especially when everyone seems to have an opinion about faith? It's tough to know who to listen to, right? And let's be honest, sometimes us Christians, with our good hearts and desire to be loving and nice, can be a little too trusting. We don't want to judge, we want to welcome, and sometimes that can lead to us being naive, or even getting taken advantage of. It's like letting the foxes right into the hen house because you're just too polite to say no. You don't want to be a sucker, right? You don't want to get duped. Well, that's exactly what an old letter in the Bible, 2 John, helps us with. It's about sticking to the truth while still living out that genuine Christian love, without being naive about those who want to twist it.
Before we dive into 2 John in the days ahead, take some time to read it on your own. Grab your Bible and read it in at least two different translations. We suggest choosing two from this list: NIV, ESV, NLT, NKJV, NASB. This will help you get a better feel for the passage before we break it down together.
Setting the Scene 2 JOHN: Love, Truth, and the Traveling Salesmen of False Ideas
Today, we're teeing up 2 John, a short letter that packs a real punch. It's a bit like a sturdy, no-nonsense warning from a wise old hand. Imagine a time, not so different from ours, where news and ideas – good and bad – flew around pretty fast. There were folks, much like today’s smooth-talking online gurus or street preachers, who traveled around peddling ideas that could slowly, or quickly, mess up what people believed about Jesus.
Most Bible experts figure 2 John, along with 1 John and 3 John, was likely written pretty late in the first century, somewhere around 85 to 100 AD. This means it came out well after the big temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, and it was probably written by the Apostle John himself when he was an old man – that’s why he calls himself "the elder."
The smart money says he wrote it from Ephesus, a major city back then, like a modern-day New York or London. It was a good spot for John to keep an eye on things and help out churches in the area dealing with new problems.
When you start reading this letter, you'll notice that 2 John is written from "the elder" to "the elect lady and her children." Now, you might think he's writing to some rich fancy family. But most scholars figure "the elect lady" is actually a way of talking about a specific local church, and her "children" are the people who went to that church. It's like calling a church a family, a community of believers – a pretty important idea for early Christians. Think about it: if John's telling them not to let false teachers into their "house" (2 John 10), it makes more sense if he's talking about a house church where people met. And when he mentions the "children of your elect sister" at the end (2 John 1:13), he's probably talking about another church, maybe the one John himself was hanging out with. So, yeah, it was likely a letter to a real, specific church that John knew, not just a general message to all Christians everywhere.
It feels like John was really looking out for his "spiritual kids" in this letter. What was the big danger? The main problem was a twisted idea that claimed Jesus only seemed human, like he was just playing dress-up. That might sound like a minor detail, but it was a massive deal. If Jesus wasn’t truly flesh and blood, then his death on the cross wasn't a real sacrifice, and his coming back to life wasn’t a real win over sin and death. The whole foundation of what Christians believed would crumble like a sandcastle.
John jumps right in with a clear message: "The elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth – and not only I but also all who know the truth – because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever" (2 John 1:1-2). See how he keeps hammering on "truth"? This isn't just about knowing facts; it's about living out what's real. For John, "truth" is wrapped up tight with Jesus himself – remember Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). So, loving "in the truth" means loving in Christ, letting the real facts about him and what he did guide everything.
So, 2 John is basically about a church community trying to balance love and truth when some sneaky teachers are trying to pull a fast one. John's telling them, "Great job sticking to the truth, but don't let your kindness make you a pushover for these con artists!"
2 John: Part of a Bigger Picture
2 John is one of the shortest books in the whole New Testament, and it’s one of a set of three letters by John (1, 2, and 3 John). Bible experts figure these three letters were written pretty close together. They all sound like they came from the same person and deal with similar issues, meaning they were probably written within weeks or months of each other. Think of them as a series of notes from John, all trying to help Christians deal with the problems popping up back then.
While 1 John is a broader letter, almost like a big sermon about who God is, what sin is, and how we should love each other, 2 John is much more to the point. It takes some of the main ideas from 1 John – especially about the dangers of false teachers (the "antichrists") and how important it is to believe that Jesus was fully human – and applies them directly to a church dealing with these problems. You can think of 2 John as a focused warning, telling them to be sharp and watch out for anyone trying to mess with the core beliefs about Jesus. It backs up those big ideas of truth, love, and knowing the difference between right and wrong. It gets you ready to understand John’s main point: welcome those who live by the truth, but put your foot down on those who try to lead you astray.
Rabbit Trail: Church in the Early Days – Not Your Grandparents' Building
When we talk about John writing to "the elect lady and her children" – meaning a local church – it's important to understand that "church" back then looked a whole lot different than what most of us picture today. Forget grand cathedrals, stained glass, or even a basic community hall.
How do we know how early Christians gathered? We piece it together from a few places:
The New Testament itself: Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and other epistles give us glimpses. For example, Romans 16:5 mentions "the church in their house."
Early Christian writings: Folks like Pliny the Younger (a Roman governor) wrote about Christians meeting, and early church fathers described their practices.
Archaeology: Digs have uncovered house churches, like the famous one in Dura-Europos in Syria, which gives us a physical look at how these spaces were adapted.
Where did they meet? Almost exclusively in homes. Christianity was a new, often suspect, and sometimes illegal religion. They didn't have public buildings or even the right to build them. So, the "church" was literally the group of believers meeting in someone's home. These weren't just big houses; sometimes they were small, humble dwellings. Think about it: this meant the group sizes were naturally smaller and more intimate.
Did they sing worship songs like we do now? Did they pray together? Absolutely! The New Testament hints at it. Colossians 3:16 talks about "singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." We know they prayed together constantly, shared meals (often the Lord's Supper was part of a full meal, a "love feast"), studied the apostles' teaching, and shared what they had (Acts 2:42-47). It wasn't just a performance; it was a deeply interactive, communal experience.
What were the hallmarks of an early "church" community or meeting?
Intimacy and close relationships: Meeting in homes meant everyone knew each other well.
Shared life: They shared meals, resources, and even hardships.
Participation: Everyone had a part. 1 Corinthians 14:26 suggests a dynamic meeting where "each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation." It wasn't just one person speaking for an hour.
Discipleship: They focused on teaching and living out the apostles' instructions.
Mission: Every home was a base for spreading the Gospel.
When did Christians start building church buildings and gathering together in purpose-built buildings for a church service? Why did that begin? This shift didn't happen overnight. For the first roughly 250-300 years, Christians largely met in homes. The change really began after Constantine's conversion and the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which legalized Christianity. With freedom from persecution, and later, imperial favor, the need for secrecy vanished.
Growth: The number of Christians exploded, making house churches impractical for large groups.
Influence of Roman architecture: They adopted the basilica style – large public meeting halls used by the Romans – to accommodate crowds and reflect the growing status of Christianity.
Clericalism/Hierarchy: As the church grew in structure, there was a greater emphasis on designated leaders and formal ceremonies, which fit better in a dedicated building.
Desire for permanence and prestige: A dedicated building provided a sense of stability and importance/
What are some of the downfalls of the way the modern church meets compared to the early church?
Lack of intimacy: Large services can make it hard to form deep, personal relationships.
Passive attendance: Often, people are consumers of a service rather than active participants.
Disconnected from daily life: The "church" becomes a place you go to once a week, rather than the core of your community life.
Focus on programs over relationships: While programs are good, they can sometimes overshadow genuine fellowship and discipleship.
What are some things modern Christians could do today to get back to our early church roots and follow in the footsteps of those who pioneered our faith?
Embrace small groups/Journey Groups: Actively participating in smaller gatherings for deeper study, prayer, and sharing life.
Practice genuine hospitality: Opening your home to fellow believers for meals, study, and fellowship.
Prioritize shared meals: The "love feast" aspect of early church life fostered deep bonds.
Encourage active participation: Look for ways to contribute, serve, and share in your church community beyond just attending a service.
Focus on organic discipleship: Investing in a few people, mentoring them, and being mentored.
Live out faith in daily life: See your home, workplace, and neighborhood as your mission field, not just the "church building."
Want to watch the video version of the Daily Bible Podcast Episode that corresponds to this study guide? Here you go!
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
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EXCITING DREAMS TAKING SHAPE
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For the past three years, Kaila and I have been living life on the road, exploring and serving wherever God leads us. It's been an incredible journey, but carrying everything we own and constantly navigating started us dreaming of something more: a home base. A place to lighten our load, simplify, and most importantly, create a space where we can truly bless others. This video is the first glimpse of that dream!
As full-time traveling missionaries and founders of YourJesusJourney.com, we live on a modest income, relying on the generosity of others to support our three-fold ministry vision: helping people understand the Bible in context, finding Christian friends, and equipping disciple makers. So, you might be wondering, how are we able to pursue something this ambitious? About a year and a half ago, Kaila’s beloved dad passed away. With his passing, Kaila inherited their expansive family home and horse property on the breathtaking North Shore of Lake Superior, in beautiful Ontario—the place she grew up, where she rode her first bike and horse, and learned to drive. After much prayer and seeking God’s guidance, we decided to sell the property. What you see here came as a result of that incredible blessing, and all the work unfolding in the next year or two will also be funded by it.
Ultimately, it’s all God’s money, God’s land, and God’s resources—we simply want to be faithful stewards, investing what He’s entrusted us with to serve our family, friends, and help countless others experience God and the lessons of the Bible in a whole new way. We prayed and searched high and low, from Texas to Idaho, and God consistently drew us back to this breathtaking location in Northwest Arizona. Imagine: a spot overlooking the world's densest Joshua Tree forest, just minutes from the Grand Canyon, with epic mountains in our backyard! Our deepest desire for this place is to be a haven for renewal. A spot where our kids can visit, Kaila's mom can stay, and friends can gather. But even bigger than that, it's a launchpad for new ministry—a place to invite people to rest, recharge, share meals, grow friendships, and truly be renewed in the desert sun. We're already dreaming of leading hikes, teaching Bible lessons, and hosting retreats.
There’s a lot of exciting work ahead, but we're stepping out in faith, trusting God every step of the way. We’re so excited to share this new chapter with our family, friends, and all of you! If you want to learn more about our ministry, please visit YourJesusJourney.com. And if you have any questions, or just want to send your prayers or encouragement, please fill up that comment section or reach out directly at YourJesusJourney@gmail.com.
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