BIBLE BOOK: Two Letters from an Old Man
Comparing 2 John and 3 John…..
The letters are not long. Both are almost identical in length, and each one was just large enough to fill a standard sheet of papyrus ten inches long by eight inches wide. The two letters are personal correspondence, and each was written to address a particular situation that existed at that time. For this reason some may consider that they have little relevance today – but nothing could be further from the truth.
John the Apostle, the writer of these two short letters known as 2 John and 3 John is generally believed to have been the longest-surviving apostle. Some members of the original group of apostles had been executed by the hostile authorities for their faith and their commitment to Christ. John had been exiled to Patmos, (Rev.1:9). According to Church tradition he had left that lonely island and was in Ephesus when he wrote these two letters – but of this we cannot be certain. The letters appear to have been written when John was a very old man – some time between the years AD 85 and 95.
A VERY FULL LIFE
Many years had passed since the day when the Lord Jesus had walked by the Sea of Galilee. John had been in a ship with his father and with his brother James when Jesus came along. They were mending their nets after a fishing expedition. As a young man John heard the call and, with James, left the ship and his father and followed Jesus, (Mt.4:21-22). For three years he had lived in the company of the Son of God. He had seen the sick healed and the dead raised to life. He had heard the most remarkable teaching, including the Lord Jesus’ own revelation, “I will build My Church,” (Mt.16:18). He had watched for a while in Gethsemane and had followed the Lord from there – first to His trial, and then on to Golgothawhere He was crucified. He had met the risen Lord and had witnessed His ascension to heaven. With the other apostles he had been empowered by the Holy Spirit and had gone forth to preach the Gospel. The Church of which the Lord Jesus had spoken had been established, and John had watched it grow as souls were saved. But all was not well. False teachers had arisen, and some of God’s people were being led astray. Danger threatened the Church of God. Aware of this, John penned the two letters that we have preserved for us in the Bible.
SIMILAR – YET DIFFERENT
It is interesting to compare the two letters. There are similarities, and there are differences. One letter is addressed to a woman, the other to a man. One clearly warns of false teachers, the other warmly commends those who are true. The message of the second epistle is “close the door” – forbidding the reception of deceivers. By way of contrast, the third epistle’s message is “open up your home” as the apostle rejoices at the welcome given to genuine believers.
Common themes emerge as we place the two letters side by side. Believers must walk in the truth and must love one another. We must be found abiding in Christ and in His teaching (2 Jn.9) and by our good deeds must prove that we are God’s children, (3 Jn.11). Each letter closes with John stating that he has more that he could write about and expressing the hope that he will soon be able to see the person he is addressing.
John, the elect lady, and Gaius have all passed on long ago, but the epistles remain – and so do the dangers John addresses. False teachers are still active in the world today. We need to know how to respond to them. Love among the true people of God is also needed as much as it ever was.
We can truly thank God that He has seen fit to preserve these two interesting and instructive letters in His Word in order to guide us in the path of truth. Let us heed today the timeless messages of that aged and beloved apostle, John.