2 John — Introduction

The question as to whom this Epistle is addressed has been the subject of much conjecture. Two views which are chiefly held, that it is addressed either to a special community or church, or to some lady known personally to the Apostle. The arguments that have been advanced in favor of one view or the other show that dogmatism is to be avoided. Since the withholding of the facts was evidently intentional, any endeavor to establish them seems inadvisable. For some reason or other the Apostle purposely refrained from disclosing both his own name and the identity of the person or the community whom he was addressing as well as that of the person or community spoken of as “thy elect sister.” The disclosure might have involved some form of persecution, or the danger of the times may have led to the Apostle’s decision in these respects. The recipient or recipients would have no difficulty in recognizing the writer and the other detail. As to “the elder” there is little difficulty about regarding him as the Apostle John. — Vine, page 111.

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2 John was written by the Apostle John to an unknown person he called “the elect lady.” It was likely written about the same time as 1 John [around AD 54-56]. The theme of 2 John is the critical importance of walking in the truth and love of Christ. Many deceivers were sent to derail the faith of both the lady and her believing children, so it is also a letter of warning for that time and, by application, to ours (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Colossians 2:8). — Grace, page 2227.

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It appears the great purpose of 2 John was to warn the believers not to give indiscriminate hospitality to strangers or traveling evangelist-teachers. Those who did not meet the sure test of sound doctrine were to be refused hastily. — KJV Commentary, page 1763.

The resources I’m using for this study:

Grace Study Bible — Berean Bible Society (Grace)

King James Bible Commentary — Thomas Nelson Publishers (KJBC)

The Epistles of John: Light, Love, Life, by W.E. Vine — Zondervan Publishing House (Vine)

Williams’ Complete Bible Commentary, by George Williams — Kregel Publications (Williams)

When I quote from these works, I will use the word in the parentheses.