Today’s passage: 2 John 1-3
Helpful thoughts:
- The elder is the Apostle John. The elect lady could be a church or it could refer to an individual lady, perhaps the lady of a household where the church was meeting.
- This short letter will inform the “Lady” that she is not being rude or inhospitable should she refuse to allow a false teachers to enter into her home (Which would allow for the false teacher to speak and sow false doctrine).
- God’s grace through Jesus Christ brings us into fellowship in the truth. This bond we share as Christians in the truth of the Gospel spurs us on to love.
Questions to consider:
- If the lady of the house, or if the church itself is being called the “elect lady”, and the children are being called, “her children” what do we see as still necessary for those children? Why would John not call them “elect” as well at this point?
- Once the truth has taken root in your heart, how long will it remain/abide (Verse 2)? How would this truth encourage our understanding of the security of the believer’s salvation?
- In what ways is love strengthened by truth? Should good doctrine and our study of it reduce our outpouring of love or increase it?