Articles
Truth, Commandments, and Teaching – 2 John
Truth, Commandments, and Teaching – 2 John
The Truth
We can KNOW the truth - and some did
IT Abides IN us.
It is eternal - will be with us FOREVER.
We must WALK IN IT..
Commandments
It is plural - commandments.
Christians are to walk according to HIS commandments - 6
It was commanded by the Father to walk in the truth - 4
THIS we have HEARD from the beginning - 5
THIS is LOVE - walk according to His commandments 6
This we have heard from the beginning! 6
THE teaching of Christ
We must abide in it - 9
The problem of the Greek genitive ( “of Christ” ) is that is has many different nuances of meaning. It can be understood as being used in the ‘objective’ sense, hence the teaching ABOUT Jesus (i.e., that he came in the flesh). It can also be used in the ‘subjective’ sense, hence it is the teaching that belongs to or comes from Jesus. J.W. Roberts noted: “Undoubtedly the majority of commentators are on the side of the subjective genitive”.
Wayne Jackson said concerning this: “But here is a crucial question. Is there anything - in either scripture or logic - that would lead one to the conclusion that he must believe the “teaching about Christ” namely, that Jesus one lived on earth “in the flesh,” but that he is free to disregard the “teaching from Christ,” e.g., that which provides direction in worship, the plan of salvation, eschatology, etc.? Does that make any sense at all?”
Yet, some have reduced this in their thinking to JUST the one teaching that Jesus came ‘in the flesh’. (vs. 7). Jesus DID ‘come in the flesh’ - but there is more to the gospel than that for he died, was buried, and arose from the dead. To say that he came in the flesh but we do not have to love one another is false teaching. To say that he came in the flesh but did not die is false teaching. To say that he came in the flesh, died, but did not arise from the dead is false teaching. To say that he came in the flesh, died, arose, but does not have all authority in heaven and upon earth is false teaching.
Disciples of Christ are to be taught to observe all that He commands through His chosen apostles and prophets as preserved for us in their writings of the New Testament (cp. Matt. 28:18-19).
Hugh DeLong
Roberts, J. W. 1968. The Letters of John. Hurst, TX: Sweet.
Wayne Jackson, https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/996-abused-passage-2-john-9-an
