From acbc67b4d539abe50fe8e936e70489b416880efc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Rick Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2020 17:48:39 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Update '64-2jn/01.md' --- 64-2jn/01.md | 42 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-- 1 file changed, 40 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/64-2jn/01.md b/64-2jn/01.md index 148222f..2900637 100644 --- a/64-2jn/01.md +++ b/64-2jn/01.md @@ -1,20 +1,31 @@ # 2 John 1 + ## 1:1-3 + + ### Who are the “elder (πρεσβύτερος/g4245)” and the “chosen (ἐκλεκτός /g1588)” lady? +[1:1] + See: Introduction See: [Elder](../articles/elder.md) + ### How does one love in truth? +[1:1] + Christian love is different than many other types of love. It is similar to the love family members show to one another. A Christian should put the needs of others above his own desires. It is a strong or loyal bond between people. Perhaps this is what John wanted to say that Christians should “truly” love others when he wrote Christians are to love “in truth (αληθεια/g225)” or “with sincerity.” Other scholars think that John wanted Christians to love others in a certain way. This love is “true,” that is true to God. They think that John wanted Christians to love God by doing the things that are taught in Scripture. + ### Is the truth a metaphor for Jesus? +[1:1, 1:2] + Most scholars think this passage contains several different metaphors. Christians were spoken about as if they were a “chosen (ἐκλεκτός/g1588)” or “elect” lady. Perhaps this is a certain group of Christians. Or perhaps it is all Christians in a given area. Or perhaps it is a certain woman. John also said Christians are people who know the truth. John refers to Jesus as the “truth (αληθεια g225) (see: John 14:6). Because of this, John may have spoke about all Christians or a certain group of Christians. @@ -23,14 +34,23 @@ In this passage, John also spoke about Christians having a “true” knowledge See: [Metaphor](../articles/metaphor.md) + + ## 1:4-11 + + ### Who are the children? +[1:4] + The children in 1:4 were the children of the lady John talked about in 1:1. They think that John spoke about new Christians in this church. Other scholars think that the lady is a certain woman, and John talked about her children. + ### Who are the false teachers? +[1:7] + John calls certain people “deceivers,” that is, false teachers. However, John did not write what they taught. Perhaps, they taught that Jesus was not a man or that God did not come to earth as a man named Jesus. They also taught these things because another false teacher gave them permission to teach. This was the antichrist. An antichrist is someone who opposes Jesus. In this passage, some scholars think that John talked about a certain person called the antichrist, that is, the devil. He rules the earth and opposes Jesus. @@ -41,8 +61,11 @@ Other scholars think John wanted to insult certain people. It was insulting beca See: [Antichrist](../articles/antichrist.md);[Satan (The Devil)](../articles/satan.md) + ### How does one remain in Jesus? +[1:9] + John often wrote about Christians “remaining (μένω/g3306)” or “abiding” in or with Jesus. This is because Christians are united with Jesus in a special way. In 1:9, John wrote that Christians “remain” in the things Jesus taught. Some scholars think John wanted to say that Christians cannot “leave” Jesus’ teachings, that is, they cannot teach things that are different from the things that Jesus has taught. @@ -51,26 +74,34 @@ Others scholars think that a Christian can stop teaching the things that Jesus t See: Introduction + ### What have Christians worked for or achieved? +[1:9] + Christians “work (ἐργάζομαι/g2038)” for something. Some scholars think that Christians work hard so that they will one day live together with God in heaven forever. Other scholars think that Christians work hard to get rewards from God. + ### Should Christians respect other religions? +[1:10] + In 1:10, John commanded Christians not to welcome certain people into their homes. He told them not to even greet them. This would have been shocking to John’s readers. In the ancient world, it was very insulting not to greet someone who came to your home. Some scholars think that John wrote this because certain people who came to the homes of Christians were false teachers. These false teachers said that they were Christians. Perhaps they kept asking Christians for help so that they could teach them the wrong things. Other scholars think that John did not write to a certain religious teacher. However, many religious teachers do not teach the right things about God. All false teachers do not teach the right things about God, even if they say, “I am a Christian.” Because of this, false teachers are dangerous to people. God wants people to know about him and live with him in heaven forever. If people do not believe the right things about God, they might not be able to live together with God in heaven. When John wrote about Christians not welcoming these people into their homes, he did not want them to start believing in things that the false teachers taught. However, Christians also need to speak against the false teachers in a loving way (see: Ephesians 4:5). + + ## 1:12-13 -### Who is the sister John talked about? -John talked about a “chosen (ἐκλεκτός/g1588)” or “elect” sister. This is the sister of the chosen lady (see: 1:1). Perhaps John was writing from another church and said that this church was the “sister” of the church he wrote. Fewer scholars think that John wrote to a certain woman and was with this woman’s sister. ### Why did John want to talk to these Christians in person? +[1:12] + John wanted to talk to these Christians when he was with them. Perhaps he did this so that other people could not read his letter and know who he wrote to. Some scholars think that John did this to protect Christians. At this time, people wanted to hurt or kill Christians. Therefore, John made a very short letter and only wrote about things that could not wait until he saw them. Perhaps he did this to be polite. There may have been things to talk with these Christians about that it would not have been polite to talk about in a letter. @@ -78,6 +109,13 @@ Perhaps he did this to be polite. There may have been things to talk with these Perhaps John was going to visit these Christians in the near future. Therefore, he wrote a short letter and waited for his visit to speak with them. Because of this, 1:12 was a normal greeting. Other scholars believe this is a just a common greeting. +### Who is the sister John talked about? + +[1:13] + +John talked about a “chosen (ἐκλεκτός/g1588)” or “elect” sister. This is the sister of the chosen lady (see: 1:1). Perhaps John was writing from another church and said that this church was the “sister” of the church he wrote. Fewer scholars think that John wrote to a certain woman and was with this woman’s sister. + + ## The Meaning of Greek Words g225 (αληθεια)