New Testament Commentary - 2 John 1

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 1 John rejoices because the children of the elect lady are true and faithful.	John rejoices because that certain children of the elect lady are true and faithful—He warns against 'antichrists' who teach not the true 'Doctrine of Christ'
1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children^a, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. The Elect Lady In consideration of Jewish common practice, Mary the mother of Jesus would have been but a young teenager marrying an older Joseph the Carpenter. She was likely still a teenager at the birth of Jesus. At the death of Jesus she might still be in her late forties. The fact that she would have had younger children when she and them were secreted out of the lands of the Jews of Judaea and Galilee and even the lands of the Roman Empire is most probable. Other sons more the age of Jesus would have been indepentant of her while other siblings would not have been. It is considered by many that this 'elect lady', whom John will not give identity to in ink upon paper for security reasons, was indeed Mary the mother of Jesus and those children and possibly even grandchildren, who with her were secreted to a safe location far distant from the reaches of those enemies of Jesus (Romans and Jews alike) who would persecute and cause her and her family harm. Certainly John is being quite cryptic and intentionally secretive in his communication to her and her children and grandchildren.	1^a The elder unto the elect lady and her children This mysterious epistle of John who refers to himself as do the apostles of today merely as 'elder', to the 'elect lady', has been speculated upon. John was given the charge of the care of Mary the mother of Jesus at the foot of Jesus' cross. However John could not both continue care for Jesus' family and continue to function as a member of the first presidency of the Church. At some point John would have secured Mary and the family members of Jesus to some safe haven. This according to tradition was placed in the hand of Mary's rich relative Joseph of Arimathaea. How this particular epistle came to be in that collection of the Church, being of such a 'personal' nature and listed with such other 'general epistles' is of some mystery in itself. Now the 'elect lady' by many is considered to be Mary the mother of Jesus and the children would be those younger children which remained with her. John will further speak of some of her other children who are operating faithfully in the Church. Two such other sons of Mary would be James the Just, the writer of the general epistle of James and Jude the writer of Jude. Both of these it would appear had become apostles at a later date as vacancies had become available by the deaths of other members of the twelve including John's own brother named James.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth^a, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is ^alove, that we ^bwalk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the ^cbeginning, ye should walk in it.	4^a I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth Though purposefully cryptic, John here seems to reference that of the children of Mary which did not remove with her, that there are some who have accepted Jesus Christ and do walk in the Church. Certainly James and Jude would so qualify. Yet implied is also the fact that perhaps others of the family of Jesus, the children of Mary, may not have accepted the Messiah and become disciple of Christ.
7 For many ^adeceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an ^bantichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have ^awrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ^a, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.	9^a the doctrine of Christ 'The Doctrine of Christ is well set out and described in the pages of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and in the New Testament for those who know what it is and what they are look for. It consists of those rudimenty gospel principles which are the bases and foundation of the Gospel Plan of Redemption and Eternal Progression. It is by these first principles and ordinances of the gospel, if faithfully entered into and followed, by which all else that there is of the gospel plan and way to heaven may be hand and obtained. Those first principles and ordiances of the Doctrine of Christ are summarized is simple form in the fourth article of faith of the latter-day Church by Joseph Smith. Through the exercise of Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, the process and ordinance of the rebirth of baptism for the continued remission of all sins and the Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost which is the souce of all truth and understanding which lead unto God in all things, the fulness of the Gospel is obtained and secured unto Eternal Life in the Lord. This is the Doctrine of Christ and their is no other way or means. Any who state it to be more or less than this cometh of evil and as John warns against, is not to be accepted in fellowship with the saints.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your ^ahouse, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is ^apartaker of his evil deeds.
12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not ^awrite with paper and ink^a: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.	*12^a I would not write* with paper and ink** The security of secrecy which is cryptically implied here would be that of necessity. The family of Jesus, Mary and others, drop from the pages of history not by chance. John is the trusted apostle of the Lord. He is the one who will live on until Christ comes again. It was not just by happenstance that John was selected the caretaker of the family of Jesus. And though he has apparently secured them somewhere and writes to them but cryptically to protect their identity as well as location, he is still in charge and governing the affairs of their secured safety away from those who would persecute them and do them great harm as such enemies of Jesus would chose to do unto the family of the Messiah. John states that there are a number of things which he just will not risk writing down in ink and that he plans to visit them and speak with them face to face, the only sure secure way of communication to the family of Jesus, Mary and her children as will as the others who have been secured to be a part of her party. Traditionally, Joseph of Arimathaea is the primary with whom John has secured her with in a place and land far from the reaches of the percesutors of Jesus.