Faith & Reason Nexus

AUTHOR: John

TIME WRITTEN: Probably around A.D. 90 from Ephesus

POSITION IN THE BIBLE:

• 63rd Book in the Bible
• 24th Book in the New Testament
• 19th of 21 Epistle Books (Romans – Jude)
• 3 Books to follow it

CHAPTERS: 1
VERSES: 13
WORDS: 303

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT 2 JOHN:

• Authorship: The author of 2 John is the Apostle John, who was one of the original 12 apostles and part of Jesus’ inner circle, along with Peter and James. He is often referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23).
• John’s Later Life: Near the end of his life, John lived in Ephesus, and he was later exiled to the island of Patmos, where he received and recorded the visions in the Book of Revelation.
• John’s Contributions: John authored five books of the New Testament: the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. Only Paul authored more New Testament books than John.
• One Chapter Books: 2 John is one of two one-chapter books authored by John, the other being 3 John. It is also one of five one-chapter books in the Bible, alongside Obadiah, Philemon, 3 John, and Jude.
• Themes in 2 John:
• Truth and Love: John emphasizes the importance of walking in truth and love, central themes in his writings.
• Obedience: The letter stresses obedience to God’s commandments as a mark of genuine faith.
• Antichrist: John warns against the antichrist and false teachers, urging believers to remain vigilant and to reject those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ.
• Abiding in God’s Commandments: The letter encourages believers to continue abiding in the teachings of Christ to ensure they receive a full reward.
• Key Verse: “Look to yourselves that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.” (2 John 8)

This brief yet profound letter serves as a reminder of the importance of staying faithful to the truth and living in love, while also being wary of deceptive teachings that could lead believers astray.