DEVOTION
THE 2ND LETTER OF JOHN
THE TRUTH
2 John 1-3
1:1 The elder,
To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth — and not
I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in
us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.
NIV
This letter is from the elder, and it has been determined by those of
far greater depth of learner then us, the elder is to mean it was from John, as we know his first letter. This is based on some of the same kind of language and specifically
that we love one another. This chosen lady has also been of some debate. There
has been thought it was a metaphor for a church and that would be the church in
Jerusalem, however, would have been conjecture as it does not imply such
meaning in the choice of words. It may also be translated as to the favorite Kuria, lady. This Greek word is the feminine
of a Greek word that means supreme authority, by implication Mr. a title of
respect. So this lady, who some also think this Greek word could be her given
name, Kuria or Cyria, a Christian lady. By the implication of the whole of the
letter, it appears she may have been a deaconess and hosted a church in her
home. Because John says that he loves her and her children in the truth and that
all who know the truth also love her. The greatest statement here in this
introduction comes directly to our lives as it did this chosen lady. That is
because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever. The truth
will never leave us. We will always have the truth both within us and around us
because we fellowship with others who have the truth within them. What we know
from the rest of this short letter of John, is there are those who do not have
the truth and thus have what is known as false teaching. Again, looking ahead
just slightly, we know we should not fellowship with that which is false. John
tells this chosen lady, not to welcome them into her home. This is not to say
we should reject anyone who desires to come into fellowship with our Lord, and
who loves the truth, but that we should not accept teaching from those who do
not have the truth living in them. This is why the Spirit gives us discernment so that we know who the truth lives in and who it does not. When we think of
truth, we only think of Jesus, for he said that He is the way, the
truth, and the life. Jesus is the truth and we indeed will have him forever.
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