2 John 1:2

For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. FOR THE TRUTH'S SAKE - joined with "I love," 2 John. 'They who love in the truth, also love on account of the truth.' DWELLETH IN US, AND SHALL BE WITH US FOREVER - in consonance with Christ's promise, John 14:16....

1-3 Religion turns compliments into real expressions of respect and love. And old disciple is honourable; an old apostle and leader of disciples is more so. The letter is to a noble Christian matron, and her children; it is well that the gospel should get among such: some noble persons are called. Families are to be encouraged and directed in their love and duties at home. Those who love truth and piety in themselves, should love it in others; and the Christians loved this lady, not for her rank, but for her holiness. And where religion truly dwells, it will abide for ever. From the Divine Persons of the Godhead, the apostle craves grace, Divine favour, and good-will, the spring of all good things. It is grace indeed that any spiritual blessing should be given to sinful mortals. Mercy, free pardon, and forgiveness; for those already rich in grace, need continual forgiveness. Peace, quie...

Verse 2 John 1:2. _FOR THE TRUTH'S SAKE_] On account of the Gospel. _WHICH DWELLETH IN US_] By the grace which it has proclaimed. _AND SHALL BE WITH US_] For God will preserve not only the Christian religion but its truth, all its essential doctrines for ever. And they that _abide in the truth_ shall go whither that truth leads, _i.e._ to glory. The _Armenian_ has a strange reading here: "For the truth's sake which dwelleth in us, _because it is_ _also with you; and ye shall be with us for ever_." But this is supported by no other version, nor by any MS....

FOR THE TRUTH’S SAKE - They love this family because they love the truth, and see it so cordially embraced and so happily exemplified. Those who love the gospel itself will rejoice in all the effects which it produces in society, on individuals, families, neighborhoods, and their hearts will be drawn with warm affection to the places where its influence is most fully seen. WHICH DWELLETH IN US - In us who are Christians; that is, the truths of the gospel which we have embraced. Truth may be said to have taken up a permanent abode in the hearts of all who love religion. AND SHALL BE WITH US FOR EVER - Its abode with us is not for a night or a day; not for a month or a year; not for the few years that make up mortal life; it is not a passing stranger that finds a lodging like the weary traveler for a night, and in the morning is gone to be seen no more; it has c

FOR THE TRUTH'S SAKE, WHICH DWELLETH IN US,.... Not for her high birth, nobility, or riches; but either for Christ's sake, who is the truth, and who dwells in the hearts of believers by faith, and who is the same that dwells in one as in another; and on his account it is that saints love one another, because they belong to him, he is formed in them, and his image is stamped upon them; and every like loves its like: or for the Gospel's sake, which has a place, and dwells in every saint, and is the same for matter and substance in one as in another; and unity of mind and judgment produces unity of affection: or for the sake of the truth of grace, the inward principle of grace, which dwells in every regenerate person; a communication of the experience of which knits the saints one to another: AND SHALL BE WITH US FOR EVER; where Christ enters and takes up his abode, from thence he never fi...

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

THE SALUTATION. The writer greets the elect lady and her children (see Introduction) on the ground of their fellowship with him in the truth, _i.e._ the faith held by the Church as opposed to that taught by the false teachers. Such truth became a bond between the various members of the Church. 2 JOHN 1:3. FROM GOD THE FATHER. THE SON OF THE FATHER. By this form of statement the doctrines of the false teachers are challenged in anticipation. in truth and love: _i.e._ truth of belief and lovingness of disposition the two marks of a valid Christianity as laid down in 1 Jn....

The Elder to the Elect Lady and to her children, whom I love in truth (it is not only I who love you and them, but so do all who love the truth) because of the truth which abides in us and which will be with us for ever. Grace, mercy and peace will be with you from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love. The writer designates himself simply by the title of The Elder. Elder can have three different meanings. (i) It can mean simply an older man, one who by reason of his years and experience is deserving of affection and of respect. There will be something of that meaning here. The letter is from an aged servant of Christ and the church. (ii) In the New Testament the elders are the officials of the local churches. They were the first of all the church officials, and Paul ordained elders in his churches on his missionary journeys, as soon as it was po...

FOR, &C. = On account of (App-104. 2 John 1:2) the truth. DWELLETH. abideth. Greek. _meno_. See p. 1511. FOR EVER. App-151. a....

Address and Greeting 1 3. Like most of the Epistles of S. Paul, the Epistles of S. Peter, S. James, and S. Jude, and unlike the First Epistle, this letter has a definite address and greeting. In its fulness the salutation reminds us of the elaborate openings of the Epistles to the Romans, Galatians, and to Titus....