2 John 1:10

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: IF THERE COME ANY - as a teacher or brother: indicative, not subjunctive: implying that such persons do actually, and are sure to come: when any comes, as there will. True love is combined with hearty separation from all that is false, whether persons or doctrines. Misbelief destroys faith, the source of love, so love itself: therefore love abhors it as overthrowing Christianity, the center of love's affection. RECEIVE HIM NOT ... NEITHER BID HIM GOD SPEED. This is not said of those always aliens from the Church, but of those who wish to be esteemed brethren, and subvert true doctrine (Grotius). The greeting forbidden in the case of such is that usual among Christian brethren: not a mere formality, but a token of Christian brotherhood....

7-11 The deceiver and his deceit are described: he brings some error concerning the person or office of the Lord Jesus. Such a one is a deceiver and an antichrist; he deludes souls, and undermines the glory and kingdom of the Lord Christ. Let us not think it strange, that there are deceivers and opposers of the Lord Christ's name and dignity now, for there were such, even in the apostles' times. The more deceivers and deceits abound, the more watchful the disciples must be. Sad it is, that splendid attainments in the school of Christ, should ever be lost. The way to gain the full reward is, to abide true to Christ, and constant in religion to the end. Firm cleaving to Christian truth unites us to Christ, and thereby to the Father also; for they are one. Let us equally disregard such as abide not in the doctrine of Christ, and those who transgress his commands. Any who did not profess an...

Verse 2 John 1:10. _IF THERE COME ANY UNTO YOU_] Under the character of an apostle or evangelist, to preach in your house; _and bring not_ _this doctrine_, that Jesus is come in the flesh, and has died for the redemption of the world. _RECEIVE HIM NOT UNTO YOUR HOUSE_] Give him no entertainment as an evangelical teacher. Let him not preach under your roof. _NEITHER BID HIM GOD SPEED._] Και χαιρειν αυτῳ μη λεγερε· _And_ _do not say, Health to him_-do not salute him with _Peace be to thee_! The usual salutation among _friends_ and those of the same religion in the east is, [Arabic] _Salam aleekum_, "Peace be to you;" which those of the same religion will use among themselves, but never to strangers, except in very rare cases. This is the case to the present day; and, from what John says here,

IF THERE COME ANY UNTO YOU - Any professed teacher of religion. There can be no doubt that she to whom this Epistle was written was accustomed to entertain such teachers. AND BRING NOT THIS DOCTRINE - This doctrine which Christ taught, or the true doctrine respecting him and his religion. RECEIVE HIM NOT INTO YOUR HOUSE - This cannot mean that no acts of kindness, in any circumstances, were to be shown to such persons; but that there was to be nothing done which could be fairly construed as encouraging or countenancing them as “religious teachers.” The true rule would seem to be, in regard to such persons, that, so far as we have contact with them as neighbors, or strangers, we are to be honest, true, kind, and just, but we are to do nothing that will countenance them as religious teachers, We are not to aid their instruction,...

IF THERE COME ANY UNTO YOU,.... Under the character of a preacher; AND BRING NOT THIS DOCTRINE; or does not preach the doctrine of Christ, as before explained, but despises it, and preaches a contrary one: RECEIVE HIM NOT INTO [YOUR] HOUSE; neither into the house of God, suffer him not to preach there; nor into your own house, give him no entertainment there: false teachers always tried to creep into houses, where they served their own turn every way, both by feeding their bellies, and spreading their pernicious doctrines; and therefore such should: be avoided, both publicly and privately; their ministry should not be attended on in the church, or house of God; and they should not be entertained in private houses, and much less caressed: NEITHER BID HIM GOD SPEED; or give him the usual civil form of salutation, as a good day to you, all hail, all health and prosperity attend you, the...

THE SECOND EPISTLE The Second Epistle is addressed by the elder unto the elect lady and her children. The word elder has the same meaning as it has in 1 Peter 5:1. Some take it that the elect lady means an assembly, and her children the members of the assembly. But this is a very strained application. The word “Kyria” (lady) excludes this meaning, besides other reasons which we do not follow here. She was a Christian woman of note generally known and beloved, having children, whom the apostle had found walking in the truth. She had also a sister with children, who seems to have been in the same place where the apostle was, probably in Ephesus. This is indicated by the last verse of the Epistle, “The children of thy elect sister greet thee.” The keynote of this message to the elect lady, unknown by name, is the word “truth.” The apostle lets them know that he loves them, as well as

EXHORTATION AND WARNING. The commandment of love given by Christ to His Church from the beginning must be faithfully observed. Loyalty to Christ meant that His followers must beware of the false teachers, the embodiment of Antichrist, who denied the reality of His Incarnation. Ground already won for the faith might be lost. Those who, under the lure of advanced thought, sought to beguile others from Christ's teaching, were not Christians, and must receive neither countenance nor hospitality. 2 JOHN 1:4. In some way, possibly through a visit from some travelling evangelists belonging to the church addressed, John had ascertained the fidelity to the truth which many of its members exhibited. 2 John 1:5 f. 1 John 2:7

THE ELECT LADY (2 John 1:1-3)...

THERE... ANY. any one (App-123) cometh. NEITHER, &C. = and... not (App-105). BID... GOD SPEED. Literally, say, Hail! (Greek. _chairein,_ TO REJOICE. See Matthew 26:49)....

We now enter upon the main portion of the Epistle, which has three divisions: _Exhortation to Love and Obedience_(5, 6); _Warnings against False Doctrine_(7 9); _Warnings against False Charity_(10, 11). As usual, the transitions from one subject to another are made gently and without any marked break....