<pclass="intro"id="iiJo.ii-p1">The apostle here salutes an honourable matron and
her children, <scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p1.1"osisRef="Bible:2John.1.1-2John.1.3"parsed="|2John|1|1|1|3"passage="2Jo 1:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>.
Recommends to them faith and love, <scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p1.2"osisRef="Bible:2John.1.5-2John.1.6"parsed="|2John|1|5|1|6"passage="2Jo 1:5,6">ver. 5, 6</scripRef>. Warns them of deceivers
(<scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p1.3"osisRef="Bible:2John.1.7"parsed="|2John|1|7|0|0"passage="2Jo 1:7">ver. 7</scripRef>), and to take heed
to themselves, <scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p1.4"osisRef="Bible:2John.1.8"parsed="|2John|1|8|0|0"passage="2Jo 1:8">ver. 8</scripRef>.
Teaches how to treat those who bring not the doctrine of Christ,
<pclass="passage"id="iiJo.ii-p2">1 The elder unto the elect lady and her
children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all
they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth's sake,
which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace
be with you, mercy, <i>and</i> peace, from God the Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in
truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p3">Ancient epistles began, as here, with
salutation and good wishes: religion consecrates, as far as may be,
old forms, and turns compliments into real expressions of life and
love. Here we have, as usually,</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p4">I. The saluter, not expressed by name, but
by a chosen character: <i>The elder.</i> The expression, and style,
and love, intimate that the penman was the same with that of the
foregoing epistle; he is now <i>the elder,</i> emphatically and
eminently so; possibly the oldest apostle now living, the chief
elder in the church of God. An elder in the ancient house of Israel
was reverend, or to be reverenced, much more he who is so In the
gospel Israel of God. An old disciple is honourable; and old
apostle and leader of disciples is more so. He was now old in holy
service and experience, had seen and tasted much of heaven, and was
much nearer than when at first he believed.</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p5">II. The saluted—a noble Christian matron,
and her children: <i>To the elect lady and her children.</i> A
lady, a person of eminent quality for birth, education, and estate.
It is well that the gospel ha got among such. It is a pity but
lords and ladies should be acquainted with the Lord Christ and his
religion. They owe more to him than others do; though usually
<i>not many noble are called.</i> Here is a pattern for persons of
quality of the same sex. <i>The elect lady;</i> not only a choice
one, but one chosen of God. It is lovely and beautiful to see
ladies, by holy walking, demonstrate their election of God. <i>And
her children;</i> probably the lady was a widow; she <i>and her
children</i> then are the principal part of the family, and so this
may be styled an economical epistle. Families may well be written
to and encouraged, and further directed in their domestic love, and
order, and duties. We see that children may well be taken notice of
in Christian letters, and they should know it too; it may avail to
their encouragement and caution. Those who love and commend them
will be apt to enquire after them. This <i>lady and her
children</i> are further notified by the respect paid them, and
that, 1. By the apostle himself: <i>Whom I love in the truth,</i>
or in truth, whom I sincerely and heartily love. He who was the
beloved disciple had learnt the art or exercise of love; and he
especially loved those who loved him, that Lord who loved him. 2.
By all her Christian acquaintance, all the religious who knew her:
<i>And not I only, but also all those that have known the
truth.</i> virtue and goodness in an elevated sphere shine
brightly. Truth demands acknowledgment, and those who see the
evidences of pure religion should confess and attest them; it is a
good sign and great duty to love and value religion in others. The
ground of this love and respect thus paid to this lady and her
children was their regard to the truth: <i>For the truth's sake</i>
(or true religion's sake) <i>which dwelleth in us, and shall be
with us for ever.</i> Christian love is founded upon the appearance
of vital religion. Likeness should beget affection. Those who love
truth and piety in themselves should love it in others too, or love
others upon the account of it. The apostle and the other Christians
loved this lady, not so much for her honour as her holiness; not so
much for her bounty as her serious Christianity. We should not be
religious merely by fits and starts, in certain moods and moons;
but religion should still dwell within us, in our minds and hearts,
in our faith and love. It is to be hoped that where religion once
truly dwells it will abide for ever. The Spirit of Christianity, we
may suppose, will not be totally extinguished: <i>Which shall be
with us for ever.</i></p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p6">III. The salutation, which is indeed an
apostolical benediction: <i>Grace be with you, mercy, and peace,
from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the
Father, in truth and love,</i><scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p6.1"osisRef="Bible:2John.1.3"parsed="|2John|1|3|0|0"passage="2Jo 1:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Sacred love pours out blessings
upon this honourable Christian family; to those who have shall more
be given. Observe,</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p7">1. From whom these blessings are craved,
(1.) <i>From God the Father,</i> the God of all grace. He is the
fountain of blessedness, and of all the blessings that must bring
us thither. (2.) <i>From the Lord Jesus Christ.</i> He is also
author and communicator of these heavenly blessings, and he is
distinguished by this emphatic character—<i>the Son of the
Father;</i> such a Son as none else can be; such a Son as is <i>the
brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his
person,</i> who, with the Father, is also <i>eternal life,</i>
<scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p7.1"osisRef="Bible:1John.1.2"parsed="|1John|1|2|0|0"passage="1Jo 1:2">1 John i. 2</scripRef>.</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p8">2. What the apostle craves from these
divine persons. (1.) <i>Grace</i>—divine favour and good-will, the
spring of all good things: it is grace indeed that any spiritual
blessing should be conferred on sinful mortals. (2.)
<i>Mercy</i>—free pardon and forgiveness; those who are already
rich in grace have need of continual forgiveness. (3.)
<i>Peace</i>—tranquility of spirit and serenity of conscience, in
an assured reconciliation with God, together with all safe and
sanctified outward prosperity. And these are desired <i>in truth
and love,</i> either by sincere and ardent affection in the saluter
(in faith and love he prays them <i>from God the Father, and the
Lord Jesus Christ</i>), or as productive of continued truth and
love in the saluted; these blessings will continually preserve true
faith and love <i>in the elect lady and her children;</i> and may
they do so!</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p9">IV. The congratulation upon the prospect of
the exemplary behaviour of other children of this excellent lady.
Happy parent, who was blessed with such a numerous religious
offspring! <i>I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children
walking in the truth, as we have received commandment from the
Those that are eminent in any Christian virtue have yet room to
grow therein. <i>But, as touching brotherly love, you need not that
I write unto you; for you yourselves are taught of God to love one
another. But we beseech you, brethren</i> (and sisters), <i>that
you increase more and more,</i><scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p13.2"osisRef="Bible:1Thess.4.9-1Thess.4.10"parsed="|1Thess|4|9|4|10"passage="1Th 4:9,10">1
Thess. iv. 9, 10</scripRef>.</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p14">1. This love is recommended, (1.) From the
obligation thereto—<i>the commandment.</i> Divine command should
sway our mind and heart. (2.) From the antiquity of the obligation:
<i>Not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that
which we had from the beginning,</i><scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p14.1"osisRef="Bible:2John.1.5"parsed="|2John|1|5|0|0"passage="2Jo 1:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. This commandment of mutual
Christian love may be said to be a <i>new</i> one in respect of its
new enaction and sanction by the Lord Christ; but yet, as to the
matter of it (mutual holy love), it is as old as natural, Jewish,
or Christian religion. This commandment must every where attend
Christianity, that the disciples of it must love one another.</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p15">2. Then this love is illustrated from the
fruitful nature of it: <i>And this is love, that we walk after his
5</scripRef>. This is the test of our love to God, our obedience to
him. This is love to ourselves, to our own souls, that we walk in
obedience to divine commands. <i>In keeping them there is great
reward.</i> This is love to one another, to engage one another to
walk in holiness; and this is the evidence of our sincere, mutual,
Christian love—that we (in other things) walk after God's
commands. There may be mutual love that is not religious and
Christian; but we know ours to be so, by our attendance to all
other commands besides that of mutual love. Universal obedience is
the proof of the goodness and sincerity of Christian virtues; and
those that aim at all Christian obedience will be sure to attend to
Christian love. This is a fundamental duty in the gospel-charter:
<i>This is the commandment, that, as you have heard from the
beginning, you should walk in it</i> (<scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p15.2"osisRef="Bible:2John.1.6"parsed="|2John|1|6|0|0"passage="2Jo 1:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), that is, walk in this love. The
foresight of the decay of this love, as well as of other apostasy,
might engage the apostle to inculcate this duty, and this
primordial command, the more frequently, the more earnestly.</p>
The more deceivers and deceits abound, the more watchful the
disciples must be. Delusions may so prevail that even the elect may
be endangered thereby. Two things they must beware of:—1. <i>That
they lose not what they have wrought</i> (<scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p19.2"osisRef="Bible:2John.1.8"parsed="|2John|1|8|0|0"passage="2Jo 1:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), what they have done or what they
have gained. It is a pity that any religious labour should be in
vain; some begin well, but at last lose all their pains. The
hopeful gentleman, who had kept the commands of the second table
from his youth up, lost all for want of less love to the world and
more love to Christ. Professors should take care not to lose what
they have gained. Many have not only gained a fair reputation for
religion, but much light therein, much conviction of the evil of
sin, the vanity of the world, the excellency of religion, and the
power of God's word. They have even <i>tasted of the powers of the
world to come,</i> and the gifts of the Holy Spirit; and yet at
last lose all. <i>You did run well, who hindered you, that you
should not obey</i> (or not go on to obey) <i>the truth?</i> Sad it
is that fair and splendid attainments in the school of Christ
should all be lost at last. 2. That they lose not their reward,
none of it, no portion of that honour, or praise, or glory that
they once stood fair for. <i>That we</i> (or you, as in some
copies) <i>receive a full reward.</i> "Secure you as full a reward
as will be given to any in the church of God; if there are degrees
of glory, lose none of that grace (that light, or love, or peace)
which is to prepare you for the higher elevation in glory. <i>Hold
fast that which thou hast</i> (in faith, and hope, and a good
conscience), <i>that no man take thy crown,</i> that thou neither
lose it nor any jewel out of it," <scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p19.3"osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.11"parsed="|Rev|3|11|0|0"passage="Re 3:11">Rev.
iii. 11</scripRef>. The way to attain the full reward is to abide
true to Christ, and constant in religion to the end.</p>
<pclass="indent"id="iiJo.ii-p20">III. The reason of the apostle's counsel,
and of their care and caution about themselves, which is twofold:—
1. The danger and evil of departure from gospel light and
revelation; it is in effect and reality a departure from God
himself: <i>Whosoever transgresseth</i> (transgresseth at this
dismal rate), <i>and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath
not God.</i> It is the doctrine of Christ that is appointed to
guide us to God; it is that whereby God draws souls to salvation
and to himself. Those who revolt thence, in so doing revolt from
God. 2. The advantage and happiness of firm adherence to Christian
truth; it unites us to Christ (the object or subject-matter of that
truth), and thereby to the Father also; for they are one. <i>He
that abideth</i> (rooted and grounded) <i>in the doctrine of
Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.</i> By the doctrine of
Christ we are enlightened in the knowledge of the Father and the
Son; by it we are sanctified for the Father and the Son; thereupon
we are enriched with holy love to the Father and the Son; and
thereby prepared for the endless enjoyment of the Father and the
Son. <i>Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to
you,</i><scripRefid="iiJo.ii-p20.1"osisRef="Bible:John.15.3"parsed="|John|15|3|0|0"passage="Joh 15:3">John xv. 3</scripRef>. This
purity makes meet for heaven. The great God, as he has set his seal
to the doctrine of Christ, so he puts a value upon it. We must
retain that holy doctrine in faith and love, as we hope or desire
to arrive at blessed communion with the Father and the Son.</p>
