2JN front intro vpa9 0 # Introduction to 2 John<br>## Part 1: General Introduction<br><br>#### Outline of the Book of 2 John<br><br>1. Greeting (1:1-3)<br>1. Encouragement and the greatest commandment (1:4-6)<br>1. Warning about false teachers (1:7–11)<br>1. Greetings from fellow believers (1:12-13)<br><br>#### Who wrote the Book of 2 John?<br><br>The letter does not name of the author. The author only identified himself as "the elder." The letter was probably written by the Apostle John near the end of his life. The content of 2 John is similar to the content in John's Gospel.<br><br>#### What is the Book of 2 John about?<br><br>John addressed this letter to someone he called "the chosen lady" and to "her children" (1:1). This could refer to a specific friend and her children. Or it could refer to a specific group of believers or to believers in general. John's purpose in writing this letter was to warn his audience about false teachers. John did not want believers helping or giving money to false teachers. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])<br><br>#### How should the title of this book be translated?<br><br>Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, "2 John" or "Second John." Or they may choose a clearer title, such as "The Second Letter from John" or "The Second Letter John Wrote." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])<br><br>## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts<br><br>#### What is hospitality?<br><br>Hospitality was an important concept in the ancient Near East. It was important to be friendly towards foreigners or outsiders and provide help to them if they needed it. John wanted believers to offer hospitality to guests. However, he did not want believers to offer hospitality to false teachers.<br><br>#### Who were the people John spoke against?<br><br>The people John spoke against were possibly those who would become known as Gnostics. These people believed that the physical world was evil. Since they believed Jesus was divine, they denied that he was truly human. This is because they thought God would not become human since the physical body is evil. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/evil]])<br>
2JN 01 01 ma4c figs-you 0 General Information: Tradition identifies the apostle John as the writer of this letter. Though possibly addressed to an individual woman, because he writes that they should "love one another," this is probably to a church. All instances of "you" and "your" in this letter are plural unless noted otherwise. In this letter, John includes himself and his readers by using the word "us" and "our." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-inclusive]])
2JN 01 01 z4tk figs-explicit 0 From the elder to the chosen lady and her children This is how letters were started. The name of the author can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "I, John the elder, am writing this letter to the chosen lady and her children" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
2JN 01 01 z9f1 0 the elder This refers to John, the apostle and disciple of Jesus. He refers to himself as "elder" either because of his old age or because he is a leader in the church.
2JN 01 01 y7hw figs-metaphor 0 to the chosen lady and her children This probably refers to a congregation and the believers that belong to it. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
2JN 01 03 vpl9 guidelines-sonofgodprinciples 0 Father ... Son These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples]])
2JN 01 03 w6tr figs-hendiadys 0 in truth and love The word "truth" describes "love." Possibly it means "in true love." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]])
2JN 01 04 ir6v figs-you 0 your children The word "your" is singular. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])
2JN 01 04 s7hr 0 just as we have received this commandment from the Father "just as God the Father commanded us"
2JN 01 05 c9xi figs-you 0 you, lady ... writing to you These instances of "you" are singular. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])
2JN 01 05 u38f 0 not as though I were writing to you a new commandment "not as though I were commanding you to do something new"
2JN 01 05 uhs8 figs-explicit 0 but one that we have had from the beginning Here, "beginning" refers to "when we first believed." Alternate translation: "but I am writing to you what Christ commanded us to do when we first believed. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
2JN 01 05 vmm8 0 beginning—that we should love one another This can be translated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "beginning. He commanded that we should love one another"
2JN 01 06 nw4g figs-metaphor 0 This is the commandment, just as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it Conducting our lives according to God's commands is spoken of as if we were walking in them. The word "it" refers to love. "And he has commanded you, since you first believed, to love one another" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
2JN 01 07 u3vi 0 Connecting Statement: John warns them of deceivers, reminds them to remain in Christ's teaching, and warns them to stay away from those who do not remain in Christ's teaching.
2JN 01 07 w25m 0 For many deceivers have gone out into the world "For many false teachers have left the congregation" or "For many deceivers are in the world"
2JN 01 07 f9e2 0 many deceivers "many false teachers" or "many imposters"
2JN 01 07 x8yl figs-metonymy 0 Jesus Christ came in the flesh Coming in the flesh is a metonym for being a real person. Alternate translation: "Jesus Christ came as a real human" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
2JN 01 07 wbp6 0 This is the deceiver and the antichrist "They are the ones who deceive others and oppose Christ himself"
2JN 01 08 it9t 0 Look to yourselves "Watch out" or "Pay attention"
2JN 01 08 b91r 0 lose the things "lose your future rewards in heaven"
2JN 01 08 eu46 0 full reward "complete reward in heaven"
2JN 01 09 mn3v 0 Whoever goes on ahead This refers to a person who claims to know more about God and truth than everyone else. Alternate translation: "Whoever claims to know more about God" or "Whoever disobeys the truth"
2JN 01 09 xty9 0 does not have God "does not belong to God"
2JN 01 09 x523 0 The one who remains in the teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son "Someone who follows Christ's teaching belongs to both the Father and the Son"
2JN 01 09 k8cv guidelines-sonofgodprinciples 0 the Father and the Son These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples]])
2JN 01 10 ls1c 0 receive him into your house Here this means to welcome him and treat him with honor in order to build a relationship with him.
2JN 01 11 n7zt 0 participates in his evil deeds "shares with him in his evil deeds" or "helps him in his evil deeds"
2JN 01 12 nx77 figs-you 0 General Information: The words "you" in verse 12 are singular. The word "your" in verse 13 is plural. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])
2JN 01 12 gq26 0 I did not wish to write them with paper and ink John does not wish to write these other things but would like to come say the words to them. He is not saying that he would write them with something other than paper and ink.
2JN 01 12 v4v2 figs-idiom 0 speak face to face "Face to face" here is an idiom, meaning to speak in their presence. Alternate translation: "speak in your presence" or "speak to you in person" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
2JN 01 13 fh6j figs-metaphor 0 The children of your chosen sister Here John speaks of this other church as if it were a sister to the readers' church and the believers that are a part of that church as if they were that church's children. This emphasizes that all believers are a spiritual family. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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