2 John 1

Notes

Ver. 1-3. Dear lady, whom God has graciously called to everlasting life, and, by the powerful influence of his grace, rendered a choice and lively Christian, and whom I, and all other sincere believers of the gospel and faithful adherents to its truths, affectionately love and esteem, not on account of your high birth or your abundant wealth, but for your experience of, conformity, and regard to those truths,—I, who am an aged ruler of the Christian church, wish to you and yours the most abundant enjoyment of all those new-covenant blessings which proceed from the redeeming mercy and grace of God our Father, through Jesus Christ our dear and now exalted Saviour; and that you all may be thereby animated to walk in truth and in universal love, according to the tenor of that glorious gospel with which he has favoured you. 4. It was with inexpressible pleasure that I found when with you some, though not all, of your children graciously converted to Christ by the power of his gospel truths, and firmly adhering to them, and earnestly practising them, in a course of progressive holiness, thereby manifesting the truth and liveliness of their inward grace, according to the commandment which we have received from God the Father. 5, 6. Let me therefore beseech you, my dear and honoured lady, that according to the law of God, long ago delivered under the Old Testament, and more lately inculcated on us, with additional motives and obligations, by our dear Redeemer in the days of his flesh, you and your children would earnestly persevere in the most affectionate love to, sympathy with, and care for, all that bear his image, and that you would manifest your love to him in a constant, laborious, and progressive study of holiness, in all manner of conversation, according to his commandments, which have been so plainly and faithfully delivered unto you. 7, 8. I the rather beg your earnest attention to these things which you were taught when first you embraced the gospel, as many preachers have now gone abroad into the world, who, pretending a mission from Christ, an uncommon zeal for his truths, and love to the souls of men, do, in direct opposition to his declarations, interests, and honour, maintain that he did not assume, nor obey, nor suffer in a true human nature, but merely in appearance of it: let me therefore beseech you, and other Christian friends to whom this letter may come, to be on your strictest watch, and to guard against the seductions of such, that ye may not fall short of the gracious reward of your acceptance, profession, and practising of the gospel, and your sufferings for it, which you expect; and that we ministers may not lose the comfort which we hoped to have in your distinguished eternal salvation, as the seals of our ministry: 9. For as he who believes with his heart the doctrines of the gospel concerning Christ's person, offices, and work, and steadily adheres to them in his profession and practice, hath a spiritual knowledge of, interest in, and fellowship with Christ and his Father; so he who does not believe, teach, and practise them, but labours to seduce his hearers into the contrary errors, has no saving knowledge of, interest in, or fellowship with either. 10, 11. If therefore any preacher appears among you who does not declare and inculcate these very doctrines concerning Jesus Christ, and the redemption of sinners through his blood, according to the riches of God's grace, which we delivered unto you, see that ye give him not the smallest encouragement, by entertaining him in your houses, or wishing him any success in his ministrations; for whoever wishes him success, or familiarly converses with him, is accounted by God as a criminal encourager and assistant of him in spreading his errors, to the dishonour of Christ and the eternal ruining of men.

Ver. 13. From comparing ver. 4, 13, it will appear highly probable that the apostle had found some of the children of these two pious sisters at a distance from their mothers, for such separations are unavoidable, and that the chief object of his writing was to convey that most delightful of all earthly intelligence—the community of family religion, which promises and secures to the separated on earth the meeting of a family in heaven. C.

Reflections.—It is a great pleasure for ministers and Christians to observe persons of quality and their children heartily embracing the uncorrupted doctrines of the gospel, and walking answerably unto them; and to see the grace of God spreading through a whole family. And exalted blessings from Jesus Christ and his Father are secured to such by their fellow-Christians' prayers. True religion does not abate civil respect, but gives a spiritual turn to the most dutiful and affectionate salutations. True faith in Christ always manifests itself in a cordial love to God and his people, and in a conscientious obedience to his law; and those only have the benefit of a special relation to Christ and his Father who continue steadfast in the faith of the gospel, and persevere in all holy obedience. It is very dreadful, after a long profession of gospel truth, and much apparent experience of God's grace, to be at last disappointed of that ample satisfaction which we expected in that course. But inexpressible is their guilt who attempt to subvert any of the leading truths of the gospel. And highly sinful and dangerous is it to have fellowship with them, or to give them the smallest countenance in their conduct. Let Protestants, let Britons, think and tremble!